Crisis talks to help save Dudley Hippodrome from the axe
Campaigners fighting desperately to save Dudley's landmark Hippodrome Theatre building from the bulldozers will be hosting a public meeting this weekend in a bid to gather extra support.
They want to send a message to councillors and Dudley Council officers that they will not go down without a fight.
A public meeting will be held tomorrow at the Station Hotel, near the Hippodrome in Castle Hill, Dudley, starting at 6.30pm.
Geoff Fitzpatrick, chairman of the Friends of Dudley Hippodrome group, said that the meeting would galvanise support to push for further talks.
The campaigners want talks with the independent assessors who ruled their business plan to run the theatre as an arts centre is unviable. Mr Fitzpatrick said council officers, including regeneration director Phil Coyne, had agreed to broker talks. Invitations have been issued to councillors in the hope they will at least meet campaigners to discuss their views.
Mr Fitzpatrick said: "We want a good turnout for the meeting because we want to show the councillors that we mean business. I would hope the councillors would attend to hear us out, it is the least they can do.
"Our meeting will discuss the way forward because we are not going to go away and if the councillors think that then they have another think coming.
"We want a meeting with the assessors because we believe they have got it wrong to suggest the council subsidises the Hippodrome. We've never asked the council for money."
Councillors are due to rule on a planning application detailing plans to tear down the theatre which played host to some of the entertainment greats.
Dudley Council leader Councillor David Sparks has already confirmed the venue will come down should approval be granted. But campaigners are adamant there is still time and around 20,000 people have signed a petition demanding the council reconsider.