Campaigning is underway in Penarth for the forthcoming council elections on May 4th. So where do our prospective candidates stand on this important local issue? Local elections are often won - and lost - on local issues and right now the future of our Pavilion and the closure of our cinema are high up on the list. Many of our local councillors have been remarkable silent on the subject and have shown to genuine attempt to engage with us. Of course last week Penarth Town Council came out in support of the 'fantastic efforts of PACL' in managing the Pavilion - a move many of us are appalled at! Last week I sent another e mail to local VoG Councillors, the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Independent Cinema Office as well as Stephen Doughty MP. This is what I said in it :- 'Despite an inordinate amount of anger in the town over the closure of our wonderful cinema there's a genuine desire to see it open asap. People are very aware of the complete lack of engagement locally and dialogue over a way forward. Naturally this leads to anger and suspicion. It is not of course helped by the many people and organisations that step forward with their own negative experiences of dealing with PACL. Whilst nobody is remotely suggesting that running a cinema is easy what is now common knowledge in Penarth is that we have lost our wonderful cinema as a result of PACL not paying you. It is an incredibly sad state of affairs which should have been avoided' As you may expect there was NO response. The party leaflets are now coming through the door and candidates knocking doors. Press them about the Pavilion and cinema. It is unacceptable when they try to distance themselves from the issue claiming it is a matter for PACL. These people fund it, some sit on PACL's Board of Trustees and teh Vale of Glamorgan Council own the freehold At the end of last week I received the campaigning leaflet from the Penarth Labour Party - not one mention of the Pavilion and cinema - this despite Lis Burnett telling me in an e mail that she would ' leave no stone unturned' in order to save the Pavilion. Us your vote wisely on May 4th!