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As Llancaiach Fawr faces closure, the situation locally is coming to a head after an art society had to remove a sign asking the community to keep the 17th-century manor house open.

At an exhibition on the site earlier this week, the Bargoed and District Arts Society put up a sign reading “Save Llancaiach Fawr” as part of a public consultation.

The venue, along with the Blackwood Miners Institute, could be “closed down” by the council.

In conversation with Caerphilly Observer Speaking about the incident and the ongoing situation with the mansion, Plaid Cymru councillor Haydn Pritchard said: “I visit the site regularly and was shocked to hear on Tuesday that the society had been forced to remove the sign.

“As far as I know, no explanation or justification was offered to them for the removal. I don’t see the problem myself. Why shouldn’t people be made aware of the petition?”

The online petition to keep the mansion open currently has around 5,000 signatures and Councillor Pritchard, who represents St Cattwg ward, added that he had also seen paper petitions circulating.

He continued: “Of course there need to be changes in the way the centre is run, but I am here often and it is always full.

“It makes no sense to me to consider options once the centre is closed, but we have seen no evidence that the council has already considered other possibilities.”

The council had previously said it faced “huge financial challenges over the next few years” and was currently spending £485,000 subsidising the mansion in Nelson, which employs 20 staff and 14 other “temporary officers”.