Statements on Penistone Town Hall

Statement: 17 September 2026

Councillor William Brown, Leader of Barnsley Council, provided an update on the decision:

“The decision regarding Penistone Town Hall and additional investment in Paramount Cinema hasn’t been easy, but it's the responsible decision for Barnsley.

"While I understand not everyone will agree, we’re dealing with a £30 million budget gap. People expect the council to spend their money carefully, be honest when there are difficult choices to make, and focus on delivering things that make a practical difference to their lives.

"There's lots of misinformation being spread about this decision. People have said that the council hasn't invested in Penistone. This is not true. Nearly £2 million has been invested in Penistone since 2019, and around £850,000 from the redevelopment project has been spent on upgrading Penistone Town Hall, making the building operational for the future.

“People have said that the council are closing the Penistone Paramount cinema. This is not true. Penistone Town Council runs the cinema from a Barnsley Council-owned property. As a responsible landlord, we’ll continue to do the works needed to keep its current operation running. But what we can’t do is justify spending £1 million on expanding the venue, including an additional 50-seat cinema, café and bar.

"We're not turning our backs on Penistone. I’ve asked officers to develop a new major investment programme for our towns and villages so people can see real improvements over the next four years. Penistone will have an important role to play in that.”

Statement: 10 September 2026

Councillor William Brown, Leader of Barnsley Council, said:

"We've taken the difficult decision to stop plans to redevelop Penistone Town Hall.

"The reason for this decision is that we need to ensure every pound of public money delivers the greatest possible benefit for all Barnsley residents. As part of a review of our capital programme, we've had to make some difficult decisions about where investment is prioritised, including in relation to this project.

“We will continue to work with Penistone Town Council, local elected members and other key partners to ensure we find the best way forward for Penistone, while recognising our responsibility to use public money carefully across the borough. We will also keep wider opportunities for Penistone under review as part of our ongoing work with local partners.

“We are committed to investing in all of our communities, and this review will help make sure future investment is focused where it can have the greatest impact and deliver best value for residents."