Mines venture could be buried

Multi-million pound plans to create a world class tourist attraction in mines beneath a Black Country town are likely to be scrapped if the cash is not secured this year.

Dudley Council fears natural erosion of the Seven Sisters mines will become too severe if repairs cannot be carried out in the near future and they may even have to be filled in for safety.

The town lost out on £50 million lottery money to kickstart the project in a TV vote last month.

Dudley Council leader councillor David Caunt today say it is crucial alternative funding is found for the project in the next 12 months – otherwise the mines could be lost forever.

But he added the authority was determined to find the funding needed for the scheme as it would be a massive blow to the region if it did not go ahead.

"We are in a race against nature," he explained.

"Every time people go down there they are finding new bits which have fallen off. The big main mine is in danger of collapse and needs to be made safe.

"We were looking at the adventurous way of doing that by turning them into a tourist attraction.

"But if we can't find the money to do that we will have to look at the less adventurous option of filling them up," he added.

"I would hope we will have secured something by the end of the next 12 months.

"But if we haven't got anything by then we will have to look at the less adventurous options because they need to be made safe," he continued.

"It is going to be a very big task to find ways of progressing that development and find some other ways of raising the money.

"That will not be easy and is one of the big challenges over the next 12 months but I think we have got to attempt it because of the benefits for everyone."

Dudley lost out in the People's 50 Million contest to the Sustrans' Connect2 project for cycle networks.