QUESTIONS have been raised over the management of Penarth Pier Pavilion, with more than 1200 people signing a petition against a planned downscaling of opening hours.

Penarth Arts and Craft Limited (PACL), the body which runs the pavilion, announced this week that the building will no longer be opening on Monday through Wednesday and that the Pavilion cinema will be closed for the summer season.

Tony Hazell, chairman of PACL, said the moves are to ensure the "long term future" of the building, in that it is "unsustainable" for it to remain open seven days a week.

However, the man who started the petition against the plans has said that the closure raises questions.

Andrew Jones, 51, of Gibson Way, Penarth said: "I have used it lots of times and the programme there is brilliant and whenever I have been there it has always been full.

"To close the cinema seems nonsensical and will mean the momentum it has gained will be lost. I just want to know why.

"The pavilion is the real gem of Penarth. People care about it and do not want to lose it."

Bob Skinner, a resident of The Esplanade said that he believes a "lack of imagination and initiative" has led to poor attendance at the Pavilion.

"The emergency - panic - decision to open part-time and to close the cinema, its star attraction, is incredible," he said.

"Overall, the promotion and publicity has been woeful, with dull leaflets, no banners for the rare special events and a website often with out-of-date information."

The pavilion underwent a £4 million restoration in 2013 funded by lottery, Welsh Government, Vale of Glamorgan Council, Cadw and Coastal Communities Fund funding.

Mr Hazell said that PACL says it has used the last three years to consider how best to safeguard the future of the building for years to come and increase footfall.

He said that the seasonal nature of the building is reflected in cinema attendances, which drop off in the summer, but said PACL was committed to the cinema's long term viability.

He also said that many of the art exhibitions held in the main hall of the building have proven to be of a "minority interest".

"We have collected a lot of information over the past three years and learnt some lessons," he said. "Incremental changes have been made and we are ready to put a more robust plan in place for the future.

"We want to develop it as a multi-purpose facility including the continuing improvement of our cafe, a varied programme of events and a new membership and patrons scheme.

"It will take time and won't happen over night but we have an obligation to keep improving.

"We appreciate the support that we have received from the general public since we opened and would also wish to acknowledge the invaluable support that we continue to receive from our loyal band of volunteers."

The petition can be viewed at change.org/p/tony-hazell-keep-penarth-pier-pavilion-cinema-open.