'Inept' claim against council over Dudley Hippodrome demolition plans

West Midlands MEP and Dudley councillor Bill Etheridge revealed he had been informed by bosses that artist's impressions published recently were 'an initial design' and that the scheme had not yet been priced up.

The historic building could be knocked down within weeks, with the council keen to have it removed 'at the earliest opportunity'. A period of consultation over the future of the Hippodrome is currently ongoing, with the Friends of Dudley Hippodrome group still hopeful they can save the venue.

UKIP's Councillor Etheridge has slammed the authority and said taxpayers in the borough cannot know whether they are getting a good deal if they don't know how much it will cost. He also joined critics of plan to create an open public space, saying it was not wanted in the town.

But council chiefs hit back saying it would make 'absolutely no sense' to spend money when the consultation period was still ongoing.

Councillor Etheridge said: "To plough ahead with a decision to demolish the building when proper costings have not been done is, quite frankly, inept.

"Repeatedly the taxpayers of Dudley have been told there is no money to renovate the theatre and bring it back into use. Here we are with a scheme, that given the cost of the recent upgrade to Coronation Gardens, could cost millions.

"The demolition costs are huge, now we are faced with paying for an open space that nobody wants or sees a need for.

"Dudley rate-payers deserve value for money. They are not going to get that when the council pursue schemes where money is obviously no object."

Dudley Council's regeneration boss Khurshid Ahmed said: "The images that went to cabinet were for illustrative purposes. Given that we have already made a very clear commitment to speaking to local people in a consultation exercise around the future of this important area, if we demolish this dilapidated building, then it would make absolutely no sense to spend money and pre-empt the outcome of that consultation exercise."

Dudley Council revealed last month that it wanted to end discussions with groups seeking to form a rescue package for the Hippodrome in revealing plans for the open space.

Councillor Ahmed told a cabinet meeting last month that the council could no longer afford to foot the bill for maintaining the empty building.