A multi-million pound scheme for a visitor centre in Barr Beacon may not materialise for some time, said council chiefs today, as they admitted other projects were a priority.

The £2.3 million scheme failed in a bid for funding in 2007 and Walsall Council was forced to withdraw the application including a cafe, children’s education room and community exhibition area. Council chiefs have failed to secure alternative sources of cash and said today it could be some time before the visitor centre dream is realised.

The authority is looking to slash £13.4m from its 2009/10 spend and has already axed 50 jobs, cut library hours and scrapped the Walsall Illuminations.

It also emerged earlier this month workers could face a pay freeze and cut in working hours to offset a predicted £5.6 million overspend for this year.

The Barr Beacon proposals were put forward as part of the £50 million Black Country Urban Park bid which was scuppered in December two years ago.

It came second in the ITV People’s Millions competition organised by lottery chiefs where the scheme was backed by the four Black Country boroughs.

It secured 29 per cent of the vote while the winning Sustrans cycle network bid supported by 79 local councils received 42 per cent.

Since losing the TV vote there has been no sign of development and although the authority insists it remains committed to the scheme but they are no nearer to finding funds.

Councillor Adrian Andrew, deputy leader and chairman of Barr Beacon Trust, said: “We remain committed to a visitor centre at Barr Beacon but unfortunately in the current economic climate we are having to prioritise our spending.”