A PUBLIC meeting held on the future of Penarth Pier Pavilion has called for a public inquiry into its management.

The meeting, organised by Nicki Page of the I Love Penarth Pier group, was organised to discuss the management of the site, which underwent a £4 million restoration in 2013.

Concern was raised in February when Penarth Arts and Crafts Ltd (PACL), which runs the building under a lease from the Vale council, announced plans to close it to the public from Monday to Wednesday, and shut the cinema over the summer period.

A petition against the closure of the cinema subsequently reached more than 1,000 signatures.

But Tony Hazell, the chairman of PACL, said at the time the changes were to ensure the future of the pavilion and enable them to provide more activities.

And this week he added: "Exciting plans for the long-term future of the Pavilion are progressing well and full details will be available shortly."

At the meeting last week Ms Page questioned the management of the building by PACL though, followed by speeches from concerned residents who voiced their fears for the future of the building.

Ms Page said: "It is about change and challenge.

"It is about how do we create a sustainable future?"

Former Olympic athlete Jamie Baulch also spoke at the meeting, and called the pavilion a landmark too valuable to lose.

"I want it to be there in 100 years for my children's children to see," he added.

A vote was taken and those in attendance at the meeting voted unanimously in favour of an inquiry into the management of the pavilion.

But the Vale council has said it is keen to see PACL flourish given the level of support provided to them so far.

A spokesman for the Vale of Glamorgan Council said: "The council has provided significant amounts of both financial and professional support to Penarth Arts and Crafts Limited in recent years.

"PACL operates from Penarth Pavilion which was extensively renovated in 2013 with the Vale of Glamorgan Council providing £800,000 towards the cost of this. "The building is still owned by the council but is currently leased to Penarth Pier Pavilion for a term of 125 years on a peppercorn rent.

"In addition to this to help support the group in their first years of trading a grant of £100,000 was provided by the council.

"Since this grant came to an end professional support has been provided by the council to help PACL improve their approach to business planning and financial management.

"Having supported them to such an extent the council is keen to see the organisation flourish and to continue to provide facilities that we know are greatly valued by the local community."

Mr Hazell added regarding Easter: "We are pleased to report that throughout this week and next, the Pavilion is open every day from 10am to 6pm with a wide range of free craft activities for children.”