Dudley Zoo plan 'galvanises' theatre campaigners
Campaigners today said their bid to save Dudley Hippodrome from demolition has been 'galvanised' since plans to use the site for a visitor centre were dropped.
Proposals to build the multi-million pound 'Dudley Bug' Trilobite centre on the site of the old 1930s Dudley Hippodrome in Castle Hill, Dudley, were scrapped this week.
Instead, under new proposals, the centre will be built on part of the zoo grounds where maintenance and stores departments stand
Members of the Friends of Dudley Hippodrome group have welcomed the news saying they were pleased that officials had looked at alternatives.
Group chairman Gordon Downing said council and zoo bosses should have considered all options rather than bulldozing the historic theatre.
It comes just days after the group revealed a series of artist's impressions showcasing alternatives for where the Trilobite centre could be positioned while keeping the Hippodrome.
"It will galvanise us and make others think who maybe thought it is a dead duck that instead there can be a future for the Hippodrome," he said.
"People are already coming up with more ideas about how we can use parts of the Hippodrome for different events.
"We just needed them to look at the options. Maybe the designs the group had showing alternatives for the position of the Dudley Bug centre did the job."
Bosses at Dudley Zoo said that the proposals to build the centre on the Hippodrome site had been shelved after they consulted schools and groups which visit the attraction.
Officials also said uncertainty over the future availability of the Dudley Hippodrome land had led to a U-turn on the proposals.
They added a growing demand for educational visits by schools – with 15,000 visits in the past year and pre-bookings for 14/15 already high – prompted the need to build the centre sooner.
