Dudley Hippodrome targeted by vandals during break-ins

Vandals are breaking into and ‘trashing’ the old Dudley Hippodrome leading to calls for action to stop them.

The iconic theatre building has sat desolate since 2012, which has led to repeated incidents of vandalism over the years.

But locals say more and more break-ins have been happening recently, with the Hippodrome being targeted twice in the last week and a half.

Concerned resident Angela Fletcher, who is part of the Dudley Hippodrome Community Group, said: “One of our members found that our Hippodrome had been broken into again on Monday as it was last Monday.

“Teenagers and others are going in and smashing things up. Why are the council allowing this to happen if it so badly covered in asbestos?

“These children are putting themselves in danger and they are being allowed to.”

Another group member Angela Gallagher added: “The building owners or managers have a legal duty of care to anyone entering the building, whether invited or otherwise.”

Calls have now been made on the Dudley Hippodrome Community Group Facebook for the council to ‘take action’.

Leader of Dudley Council Councillor Qadar Zadar has said he will ‘urgently’ look into making the building safe to reassure residents.

He said: “We don’t want people to enter as it is unsafe and I would urge people not to.

"It’s not the safest place as there are no lights, and it’s a health hazard too if people enter without proper protection.”

WATCH: YouTuber tours empty Dudley Hippodrome

Meanwhile, a YouTube vlogger has made waves locally after filming himself entering the derelict Hippodrome building.

The blogger, who goes by the name of Xplorography online, said in the video that it was 'the best place he had explored in a while'.

He added that he hoped his video showed people trying to save the 'famous' Hippodrome that the building 'may still be usable'.

There was no evidence in the video that the YouTube user was vandalising the property.

How the fight for the Hippodrome has been fought

It started as a the romantic vision to bring Dudley Hippodrome back to its former glory.

The venue has been operated as a Gala Bingo Hall until it closed in 2009.

Dudley Council took over the site and, after it had stood empty for some while with little interest from potential buyers, the then-council leader Les Jones revealed plans to knock the venue down.

Malcolm Palmer, chairman of the local George Formby Society, started collecting a petition against the demolition plans in honour of the star who famous performed there.

Later he was joined by Geoff Fitzpatrick and together they collected thousands of signatures on a petition calling for the venue to be revived.

The campaigners created a business plan to take over the site by the end of 2012.

Dudley Council was also looking into plans to create a temporary car park on the land.

Council officials dismissed the business plan following an independent assessment but entered into further talks with Mr Fitzpatrick and group members.

Gordon Downing took over as chairman of the Friends of Dudley Hippodrome group following the death of its former campaign leader Mr Fitzpatrick.

In 2014 plans also surfaced to create a £3m education and conferencing centre known as the 'Dudley Bug' - after fossils unearthed at Wren's Nest National Nature Reserve.

In October 2014, Jonathan Kendrick, co-founder of Midlands-based mobile technology firm, The ROK Group, revealed £8m plans to create a multi-purpose venue with moving stages to host a wide range of events from pop concerts to snooker competitions.

The proposals were initially welcomed by the council saying it agreed there was ‘potential for a major and very exciting’ scheme.

The Friends of Dudley Hippodrome group had submitted separate proposals for the venue by December 2014, but this was swiftly dismissed by the then-council leader Pete Lowe.

And The ROK Group proposals were dropped by April 2015 - in an apparent disagreement over the use of car parking space to the rear of the theatre.

A further deadline of September 2015 was set for the Hippodrome's future to be decided.

Six groups expressed interest in the site. But by November only one group had firmed up its interest. Businessman Gary Blick sought to bring together experts to look into its future.

Campaigners were then given until the end of 2015 to present a viable business plan.

The Hippodrome looked all set to be bulldozed when the council published plans for an open green space and square to replace the building, only for that to be put on the back-burner when a fresh approach came from a campaign group known as Black Country Hippodrome.

The council leaders at the time said they wanted the building removed ‘at the earliest opportunity’ despite pleas from campaigners and opposition councillors.

A new steering group was set up featuring campaigners but also new supporters and industry experts.

The group was given to the end of February 2016 to address the council’s concerns.

It then emerged any demolition plans could be delayed due to concerns about bats inside the building.

After further talks the then-Dudley Council leader, Councillor Pete Lowe, agreed to hand over the keys to the Dudley Hippodrome in late 2016.

The group was handed a five-year lease and allowed to begin minor works inside while it also looked into funding the project.

Problems began to arise when members said they would not be able to raise the £5 million needed with such a short lease.

The saga continued before Dudley Council said earlier this year that campaigners had failed to demonstrate they could raise enough money to make the rescue of the landmark viable.

Campaigners requested a 20-year extension to its current five-year lease which they say is too short to attract investment.

But by November 2017 the then council leader, Conservative Patrick Harley, said he believed 'not much progress' had been made by the campaign group.

It came as Dudley College revealed its interest in the Castle Hill site.

Campaigners behind the restoration of Dudley Hippodrome were also told to prove it will not rival Wolverhampton’s Grand Theatre before receiving crucial funding.

The group leading the project applied to the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) for more than £100,000 to carry out a feasibility study on the building, it was revealed in May 2017.

It emerged in February 2018 that a new meeting would be held where the venues future would be on the agenda.

And the council's cabinet agreed to takeover control of the site and forfeit the lease.

Revitalised campaigners, called Dudley Hippodrome Community Group, started to campaign by April called on fresh supporters to come forward.

In December 2018 a report to the council’s cabinet recommended a proposal by the Dudley Driverless Vehicles Consortium to use the land as control centre for a high tech autonomous vehicle demonstration route.

And Dudley Council approved plans to turn the Hippodrome into a £9 million hub for driverless cars.

The Dudley Driverless Vehicles Consortium has been given 12 months to come up with a suitable bid.