COUNCIL chiefs are offering a last chance for people to save Dudley’s dilapidated Hippodrome.

Dudley Council says the future of the derelict old theatre in Castle Hill will be decided once and for all by the end of the year and has launched a final ‘expressions of interest’ exercise – giving anyone interested in saving the venue an opportunity to submit proposals for the site.

Initial expressions of interest will be sought by September 30 and interested parties will have until October 9 to submit further information.

Final offers will be looked at in detail by a panel, including an independent assessor, and a final decision is expected to be made by the end of the year.

Council bosses say expressions of interest need to include a thorough, realistic and deliverable business plan, which includes buying the mothballed building and addressing parking issues.

Councillor Khurshid Ahmed, Dudley’s cabinet member for planning and economic development, said: “This has been a long running issue, and we have fully explored every suggested alternative use submitted so far, but we need to draw a line under this.

“This really is the final opportunity to decide the future of this building, but it must be viable and deliverable, addressing all the well known issues of parking and costs in bringing this building back to life.

“As a community council we are listening to local people with an open mind, but have to balance this with the needs of all tax payers across the borough and bring this issue to a close very soon, to avoid further costs.”

The old Hippodrome building, which has lain empty since it ceased running as a bingo hall in 2009, was bought by the council in 2010 and demolition proposals were announced as part of a tourism masterplan, linking the zoo with Dudley town centre.

But the plans have been on ice for the last five years – after campaigners urged for the chance to find an alternative uses for the building.

Anyone interested in making an expression of interest can obtain the necessary forms by calling DudleyCouncil Plus on 0300 555 2345 or email property.management@dudley.gov.uk. The deadline for initial expressions is September 30.