THE future of an eyesore branded Dudley’s disgrace remains uncertain after planners rejected a proposal for a new supermarket.

Members of the borough’s development control committee refused permission to demolish the King Arthur pub on Priory Road to make way for an Aldi store.

The building, which is locally listed as a heritage asset, has been empty since 2012 and the shabby state of the site, which is prominent on the main Birmingham New Road into Dudley town centre, drew complaints from a senior councillor.

Cllr David Caunt told the committee: “That is the gateway to Dudley – what a mess, it is a disgrace. We should support some activity on that site.”

The former council leader however added he intended to refuse the current application because there was no design submitted for a building to replace the King Arthur but he reserved the right to back demolition in the future.

The meeting was told by Steve Simms, agent for site owners Jahorina Limited, that Aldi is ready to buy the site if permission was given for a store development and refusing demolition would delay regeneration and the creation of 40 new jobs.

Committee chairman Cllr Qadar Zada said he was also against demolition until he can see designs for the building’s replacement.

Cllr Zada said: “I hope someone will come forward with a scheme, this is not about one must happen before the other thing.

“When I see a scheme I agree with I will be happy to support it. I don’t believe the gateway to Dudley should be a car park.”

Council planning officers recommended refusal because the economic benefits of demolition do not outweigh the loss of a landmark building.

The King Arthur recommendation caused exasperation among campaigners battling to save another borough landmark, Dudley Hippodrome.

In August 2013 planning officers recommended the empty Hippodrome theatre should be demolished, despite doubts from English Heritage about funding for a now defunct plan to build a new visitor centre for Dudley Zoo on the Castle Hill site.

Garry Sawers, from the Friends of Dudley Hippodrome, said: “It does make me want to pull my hair out. The Hippodrome is historically a lot more important than something like an individual pub.

“Everybody can see the council can’t get away with saying that about a building which is a fair distance from Dudley town and one which is historically one of the most important in the Black Country; it does not make sense.

“They are waking up to the fact they have got to look after our heritage - that makes me very optimistic.”

Planning committee members deferred a decision on the Hippodrome and Dudley Zoo has now said it will build its new visitor centre with the grounds of the zoo instead.