Bats delay Dudley Hippodrome demolition

Council bosses said a bat survey would need to be carried out before any work to knock down the Hippodrome could begin.

It comes as the town's regeneration boss warned a current plan to try and rescue the Castle Hill landmark was likely to be the last chance for campaigners, saying demolition work would start 'very shortly' if the takeover package was not deemed to be viable.

Dudley Council has agreed to get rid of the iconic venue, which was last used as a theatre more than 40 years ago, and replace it with an open public space.

But bosses have afforded a campaign group, called the Friends of Dudley Hippodrome, time to prepare a business plan which, if successful, would see them take over the Hippodrome and re-open it as a theatre. Up to £8 million is needed to bring the rescue plan to fruition.

Councillor Khurshid Ahmed, head of planning and regeneration at Dudley Council, said: "An issue has come about over bats. There will have to be a bat survey.

"We don't know if there are bats in there but they are an endangered species and are in hibernation so we have had to avoid demolishing the building. We need to make sure any bats are protected before anything is done."

Councillor Ahmed said a final decision on the future of the Hippodrome had to be taken soon as the authority could no longer afford to keep spending money on it.

He said: "We have said if a viable business plan comes forward we will look at it. There is a business plan being looked at at the moment but if it hasn't got viability something is going to happen very shortly. If the money is available it will be brought back into use if it isn't demolition will take place.

"We can't afford to use taxpayers' money to continue to protect it. It has not been used as a theatre for 40 years and for a building of that size and condition it costs a lot of money."

The Friends group has revealed plans to the change the name of the theatre to the The Black Country Hippodrome should they succeed in securing its future.

A business plan submitted at the end of last year was deemed 'extremely unrealistic' according to independent assessors. Revised plans were submitted to the council in February in a bid to address some of the concerns raised.