Penistone town councillors have offered Barnsley Council £1 for the town hall that houses the Paramount cinema, aiming to take ownership and find a way to restore the building. Their proposal follows the council’s decision to cancel a planned renovation, putting the future of the cinema and other community use of the hall in question.

The previous administration had approved £1.8m for work including a second, 50-seat cinema, a café and a bar, but Barnsley Council cited a £30m budget gap when it withdrew the project. Penistone’s mayor says the hall needs major work to meet accessibility and fire standards and has no heating, though its roof was recently replaced. More than 4,000 people have signed a petition to save the venue; councillors say ownership could let them seek grants, crowdfunding or borrowing to fund repairs.