We won't give up our fight for Dudley Hippodrome, say campaigners

The Friends of Dudley Hippodrome group suffered a blow after Councillor Pete Lowe claimed the members' business case was not viable.

It comes two years after a previous proposal by the friends group for the venue, last used as the Hippodrome in 1964, was turned down.

The latest business plan from the group would see the venue refurbished and kitted with 1,600 seats.

Funding would be raised from grants and from renting out rooms at the site for lead up.

Councillor Lowe told the Express & Star the group's business case 'didn't stand up', inviting the members for a meeting to discuss other platforms to provide arts space in the borough.

In response, group chairman Gordon Downing has said members will not give up on their scheme and an application for thousands of pounds of grant money had being made.

He said: "It is disappointing the members found out through the newspaper rather than being contacted beforehand, it has left a lot of people upset.

"But we are not giving up - I want to have a meeting and find out how the decision on our business case was made.

"Our figures do stand up. We don't intend to get the money to do the revamp straight away, we would raise cash gradually by renting out rooms.

"And our calculations were done using £20 for a seat to a show, that is really a minimum considering the names we could get.

"The case is solid, we based it on the Plaza theatre in Stockport."

Under the business plan, the projected running costs would stand at £112,000 – but could be reduced by at least 80 per cent if the group was granted charitable status.

The Hippodrome would be open 250 days a year with 10 full-time staff working at the site.

An almost £2,000 a day profit would come from ticket sales and refreshment stalls.

Takings are based on selling 800 seats a show.

Before submitting the plan, the group members were able to go inside parts of the former venue.

Consultants employed by the council have claimed it would cost around £400,000 to clear asbestos from the building ahead of reopening.

As well as the friends group bid, plans have also been submitted by ROK Group, headed by Wolverhampton-based businessman Jonathan Kendrick.

His £8million scheme would see the venue turned into an entertainment complex - but the council has asked for more detail on it.

The Dudley Hippodrome was built 1938 and was used as a theatre until 1964, when it became a bingo hall. The building has stood empty since it closed in 2009.