CONCERNS have been raised over proposals to regenerate a Meirionnydd theatre with a local councillor saying people have been misled.

Kallum O’Sullivan, the executive producer and owner of KMD Productions Ltd, said his company would reopen Harlech’s Theatr Ardudwy this month.

In June, he told the Cambrian News that over 30 new jobs would be created at the theatre and that he was “deeply honoured and thrilled” to be reopening the theatre.

However according to county councillor for Harlech and Talsarnau, Gwynfor Owen, people turned up to the theatre under this promise of employment only to be told there were no jobs available.

The councillor told the Cambrian News this week he feels sorry for those who have been misled by Mr O’Sullivan, adding: “I also feel angry towards Kallum for what he’s done to the local community, through raising the hopes of a community that work would happen on the theatre and things would get under way soon. But it’s turned out to be a stack of lies.

“People have been let down badly, for example, turning up at the theatre having been promised employment there, only to be told there were no jobs.

“I had my own concerns when I first met Mr O’Sullivan, and these were echoed by people in Harlech.

“I raised these concerns officially with the North Wales Police at the end of July.

“The important thing for Harlech however is the future.

“The plans that are now being put forward for the theatre and the college are much more realistic, and my duties as a councillor are the same as they would be with anybody else that wants to invest in Harlech, by helping them in the right direction, and that is what I will be doing.”

Tony Stringfellow was employed by Mr O’Sullivan as an artistic director, yet says he was never paid.

He said: “I had misgivings almost from the off, having over 40 years experience working in the entertainment industry, you develop a sense for when things just don’t sit right.

“It took me just two weeks to gather the evidence I needed to pull the plug, as soon as I could do so, I called the new owner and the police, and we immediately severed all ties to Kallum.

“The new owner then engaged me as project manager and artistic director moving forward.

“As most of you know, we have been having problems with break-ins. I have taken measures to try to abate this but I would appreciate the community being vigilant please.

“I look forward to working with the community moving forward.”

A Gwynedd Council spokesperson said: “We continue to discuss with the new owners to better understand their plans for the site for the future.”

An investigation by BBC Wales’ Newyddion last week into the situation around Theatr Ardudwy and Mr O’Sullivan stated that several of his statements made earlier this year were untrue, including a claim he received funding from the National Lottery and Arts Council of Wales to work on the theatre.

The Cambrian News approached Mr O’Sullivan with the claims but no response was received at time of publication.