Blow for Dudley Zoo scheme as AWM rethinks £5m

Advantage West Midlands has pulled the plug on £5 million pledged funding for Dudley Zoo's long-anticipated transformation, it has emerged.

Bosses at the doomed regional development agency confirmed today cash it had committed to turn the Castle Hill site into a world class tourist attraction had been withdrawn.

The grant had been suspended earlier this year pending a review. The zoo and Dudley Council are now awaiting news on European money to bankroll the £10m scheme.

It is the latest delay to hit the long-term vision for the zoo. Plans to create a mini version of Cornwall's Eden project, part of a bigger £100m leisure scheme for Castle Hill, collapsed at the end of 2008 when original developer St Modwen pulled out.

AWM stepped in to save the scheme but has now abandoned the project.

AWM spokeswoman Sheila MacDonald confirmed the zoo had missed out on AWM's revised funding programme for 2010/11. It has been forced to review its spending for the next two years and is due to be axed in 2012.

Zoo chief executive Peter Suddock has been putting pressure on political leaders to secure money, saying the scheme is important to Dudley and the tourism industry.

Mr Suddock has remained bullish about the zoo's ambitions, saying: "It is not a question of it we will get the money, but when."

Profits for the year to December 31, 2009 were £95,000, up £81,000 on the previous year.