THE keys to a dilapidated former bingo hall in Dudley will be officially handed over to campaigners who have vowed to revitalise it on Monday (December 19).

The Black Country Hippodrome group recently signed a five-year lease with Dudley Council, and has pledged to set in motion plans to get the former hippodrome back up and running.

A series of milestones have been agreed between the group and the council to ensure progress continues on finding a suitable funding package for the intensive work needed for the building, which has stood empty since 2009.

The council bought the building in 2010 and considered a number of proposals to reuse it but following in-depth assessments from independent consultants none of them were found to be viable.

Plans to demolish the building as part of a huge tourism masterplan, linking the zoo with the town centre, were considered but halted to listen to the campaigners who have now signed the lease.

The council’s cabinet has approved a move to put forward a planning application to demolish the building as a fallback position, should the group fail to raise the funds needed.

Councillor Khurshid Ahmed, cabinet member for planning and economic development, said: “Black Country Hippodrome Ltd has been working behind the scenes to attract new funding to help reopen the building on Castle Hill.

“We are delighted to be supporting them with their bid to do this, and that will continue as long as they are making progress and meeting the agreed series of milestones set out in the lease.

“As a community council we have remained open to alternative suggestions for the building, as long as they are viable, and we will submit a planning application for demolition of the building as a fall-back position if it is needed.”

Steve Daniels, Black Country Hippodrome Ltd board member, said: “We are delighted to have signed the lease and it’s the first big step in our plans to restore this local landmark back to its former glory.

“There are big challenges ahead and we are confident that we will meet them. We have worked well in partnership with Khurshid and his team and hope that this continues until we achieve our goal.”

The key ceremony, which is open to all supporters, will take place outside the Hippodrome at 12noon.