A NEW heating system installed just 18 months ago at the Regal Cinema in Tenbury following flooding in the town has been condemned as unsafe.

The town council, which operates the cinema, has removed kerosene-heating fuel from the building under the instructions of the Health and Safety Executive, which says the system does not meet with regulations.

A special meeting of the council may be held as early as next week to try to find a way to resolve the problem before the onset of winter.

HSE officials were called in following a visit from the environmental health department at Malvern Hills District Council.

It was determined that the system did not meet safety requirements and that the fuel stored in tanks at the Regal had to be removed.

“This is a serious situation and we have to find a way to resolve it, even if we have to go for a short term solution until we can pay for something more permanent,” said Richard Jones, Mayor of Tenbury.

Town clerk Pat Buckley said alternative electrical and gas heating systems were being considered.

The dilemma is that while a gas-fired system would be cheaper to run in the long term, it would be more expensive to buy and install than an electric boiler.

In any event, even the cheaper electric option would cost £16,000, which the council has not allowed for in its budget for the current year.

“With the autumn and winter looming, time is not on our side and something has to be sorted out.” said Coun Jones. “It seems that we have the option of trying to secure a loan from the Public Sector Loans Board at a preferential rate or dipping into our reserves.”

The council will seek legal opinion over the advice that the kerosene-fired system was appropriate when it was installed 18 months ago.