THE return of cinema to Barnsley has been delayed because of a mix-up over licensing bureaucracy.

Blah Bar on Market Hill was due to launch its Cine Blah nights yesterday but it could not because of a missing information on a licensing application.

Organisers are frustrated the council has been inflexible meaning the first film, Memoirs of a Geisha, will not be screened. They claim bureaucracy has been put before culture.

Last ditch attempts by Corridor Arts and the Design Centre failed to get Barnsley Council to change its position. They say the launch was cancelled merely because of the lack of a ticked box on the application.

Corridor Arts’ director Christian Hill said: “Corridor Arts and Design Centre North is extremely disappointed that a lack of flexibility on behalf of the council has resulted in the people of Barnsley missing this Academy award nominated film.

“The licensing authority seems more interested in paperwork than in the cultural life of this town.”

Jay Arnold is development manager for the screen Yorkshire organisation which promotes film. He was disappointed in the council’s stance.

“As funders of the Cine Blah project we were surprised that the first showing could not take place. We fund this type of activity throughout Yorkshire and we have never encountered this problem in the past.”

A licensing spokesman said Blah bar's existing licence does not allow film screenings but the owners can apply for a temporary event licence. This has to be lodged ten days before the event.

“In this instance, there was insufficient time for a temporary event notice to be submitted to enable the event to take place.”

Film screenings will now start on Thursday, with comedy Transamerica being shown.