CAMPAIGNERS fighting to save Dudley’s Hippodrome have accused council bosses of making "a mockery of democracy".

Black Country Hippodrome Ltd (BCHL) are working on plans to restore the dilapidated former theatre and bring it back to its former glory but that dream could soon be over as Dudley Council is looking to take back the keys to the landmark building.

The council has said the group has failed to achieve key milestones within a set time frame, which were mutually agreed when BCHL was given a five-year lease for the building in December 2016.

The council said the group has failed to complete and document a feasible funding strategy; provide that funding strategy to the landlord; carry out a complete feasibility study on the project; start to carry out building surveys or draw up a proposed scheme.

However the group has argued that much more progress has been made than the council is giving them credit for, including "considerable advances", not covered by the milestones.

The directors of BCHL have expressed "concern but little surprise" regarding the council's plans, adding that their efforts have been hampered by not being able to access the building due to the presence of asbestos.

A BCHL spokesman said: "One of the milestones we set up and agreed with the council required free access to the building – how could we deliver on this when we were prevented from entering it?"

The spokesman said that three funding applications have also been made by the group so far but a "stumbling block" has been the short length of the lease, adding: "Five years is not long enough for major funders, who also do not like ‘break clauses’ such as the annual milestone review, which the council is currently invoking.

"However, this was the only lease available. These things take time, which the council is denying us."

Addressing the news that the council has also held informal discussions with Dudley College over future use of the Castle Hill site for expansion, the spokesman said: "How can such discussions happen without us, as lessees, not even being made aware of them – this is discourteous in the extreme.

"Also, one has to question the ethics of Dudley Council offering a group such as BCHL a five-year lease on a building for which they had definite shorter-term plans.

"The council’s actions fly in the face of all the hard work that we and the Friends of Dudley Hippodrome and the directors have put into trying to save and reopen this building over the years, and directly against the wishes of the majority of local people.

"The council is supposed to serve the people who elect its members and pay its officers; not over-ride them.

"This is a sad day for local government in Dudley, and a mockery of democracy."

Councillor Patrick Harley, leader of the council, said: “Overall, while some progress has been made in certain aspects, that progress has been slow. The council feels there is not enough clear evidence in place to give us a belief the group can deliver what it wants to deliver.

“Let’s not forget, when the group were handed the keys, they pledged to have it open by 2020. We’re only two years away from that and it’s difficult to see what has been done other than a lick of paint. It’s still full of asbestos, they can’t even get in there at the moment because it’s so unsafe."

He added: “We’ve given BCHL every chance – now is the time to look forward and see what other options we have.”

The council’s cabinet will be asked to approve recommendations which would see the authority’s legal services department instructed to start procedures “leading to forfeiture of the lease” during a meeting on Thursday (February 8).

If that is approved, a further report will go before the cabinet at a meeting later in the year setting out proposals for the future use of the building and site.