Visitor figures setback for zoo

Dudley Zoo’s failure to attract predicted visitor numbers has been blamed for throwing a multi-million pound revamp into jeopardy.

St Modwen, the company behind the £10 million scheme, today said the current economic climate meant the site would not rake in the profits it had hoped for when a deal was struck seven years ago.

Bosses have not ruled out the possibility they may have to pull out of the plan to turn the site into a world- class visitor attraction.

It leaves a question mark hanging over the whole Castle Hill development which includes a garden centre, hotel and housing and which had attracted investment of £5 million from regional development agency Advantage West Midlands. (AWM)

The revelation comes after the Express & Star reported yesterday the project was in doubt as a deadline for work to start by the end of the year looms.

Regional director of St Modwen, John Dodds, said: “Unfortunately, due to the current economic climate, the zoo has recently advised that its initial visitor and price growth predictions, upon which the funding of this scheme has always rested, are now unachievable. The news now puts the viability of the scheme into question.”

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