THE director of Cardigan Castle has been suspended amid allegations of 'trustee interference' and claims that the Welsh language and culture is not being supported at the castle.

Cris Tomos was appointed director of the recently opened castle in October 2012, taking over from Steffan Crosby who left after only four months. He was previously the project’s finance officer.

Mr Tomos is well known locally as a community stalwart who has been actively involved in Canolfan Hermon, Cwm Arian Renewable Energy, community co-operative 4CG and Credcer Credit Union.

In 2013 he was named Social Enterprise Champion at the Social Enterprise Awards Wales.

Last month, on June 26, the day after a Welsh language concert in the castle, Mr Tomos was suspended from his position, being told there was a “risk to the business in allowing you to remain at work”.

Speaking to the Tivyside Advertiser Mr Tomos said that disagreements over trustee interference and over ‘a lack of’ engagement with Welsh language groups and the local community had led to his suspension.

“There has been a differing of opinion on how the enterprise should be run,” he said.

“The interference of trustees on the operational front is very difficult. There’s been so much hands on interference,” he said.

Concerns about the castle’s links to Welsh culture arose when it was announced that the headline act for the castle’s official opening concert on July 25 would be English folk supergroup Bellowhead, with Welsh group 9Bach in support.

Subsequently, 9Bach won the Radio 2 Folk Award for best album.

A celebration of Welsh Culture was then announced, with a successful concert featuring top Welsh acts held last month to coincide with an official opening with the First Minister of Wales.

Among those who had been vocal about the castle project’s perceived lack of Welsh language and cultural considerations has been a group calling themselves the Friends of Rhys Ap Grufudd.

Mr Tomos said that he had been banned from contacting or entering into communication with Hefin Wyn, of the group.

“A large contingent of Welsh speaking people wanted Cardigan Castle to have Welsh language importance,” said Mr Tomos.

“There has been a total negative approach to dealing with any criticism from Welsh language groups. I am not pleased with the direction the whole project was going in, alienating Welsh language people.”

Mr Tomos also said he felt the board of trustees were too focussed on developing a high end exclusive venue, rather than engaging with locals, even though local involvement was a key part of Community Asset Transfer and Heritage Lottery funding.

“I was keen to get local weddings and local people using the site,” said Mr Tomos.

“The chairman of the board would rather it was exclusive high end and out of reach of local people.”

And in what should be a year of celebration with the successful opening, Mr Tomos said morale had been low with some staff and volunteers feeling “disillusioned”; Since November six of the 12 trustees have left, three key members of staff have also gone.

The head gardener left in January, the chef left in April and the finance officer in June.

There were also redundancies last year with a restructuring of staff.

Mr Tomos was off sick when the castle opened in April, and during his absence former trustee Sue Lewis was acting director. He described the situation as “very awkward”.

“Since I came back, I haven’t been allowed to develop the operational arm and take the operational business forward,” he said. “There has not been agreement since I returned to work in May.

“I feel frustrated that this great project, which has great potential, is not being allowed to develop its full potential and not being able to incorporate the local community.

“It seems all that [community engagement] is being swept under the carpet to develop high end exclusive venue that won’t be accessible to local people.”

Jean Jones, a former trustee who left in January said she was “gutted” that Mr Tomos had been suspended.

“It was a kick in the stomach,” she said. “Cris Tomos is a Welshman first. He could see the benefits the history and the culture were going to be for the castle. I think it’s a great loss.”

Mr Tomos said he had been in touch with his union, Unite, and had their support. He is waiting to hear from the trustees until he decides what action to take next.

A spokesperson for Cadwgan Building Preservation Trust which runs the castle said: “A member of staff has been suspended and an investigation is ongoing so it is inappropriate to comment further at this stage.

“Cardigan Castle is managed by a dedicated board of trustees, supported by a small team of staff and a dedicated group of local volunteers, the castle will remain open for business as usual.”