Coventry’s Phoenix Initiative will rise in its full glory or be consigned to the ashes of history following a High Court challenge by the owners of the old Hippodrome this week.

Gala Bingo is contesting the compulsory purchase order served by the council so the former Coventry Theatre and Hippodrome can be demolished.

Gala is to take its case to the High Court tomorrow against the Government’s decision to allow the purchase order.

It is basing its application on the fact that traffic orders dealing with the revised route for cars were not in place at the time the government inspector held an inquiry into the scheme.

Gala says that without the full facts the inspector could not have made an accurate decision and the company is urging the court to throw out the order.

If the judge agrees with Gala then it will throw the centrepiece of the £40 million scheme into doubt.

HOW MILLENNIUM PLACE WILL LOOK IF THE HIPPODROME IS DEMOLISHED

Work has been continuing on other aspects of the scheme, such as the demolition of John F Kennedy House and the renovation of Lady Herbert’s Garden.

In place of the Hippodrome a millennium place with a glass map embedded in the floor is planned, showing the different time zones of the world.

Project director Chris Beck (right) said the Secretary of State for the DETR, John Prescott is named as the first defendant in the case, with Coventry City Council also being represented.

If the hearing goes into a second day then it is likely to put the judge’s decision back until next week at the earliest.

Mr Beck said the judge’s decision was crucial, but it was not necessarily a case of saying “yes” or “no”.

He said:

”If he comes down on our side then we can get on with it. If he doesn’t then we have to go away and think how we proceed.”

Mr Beck added that the delay was likely to make the project miss its December 2001 deadline, but funding was not at risk.

He said:

”Our contract with the Millennium Commission allows for delays for circumstances outside our control.”

Gala Bingo originally accepted the offer of a new site at Pool Meadow car park, but then stunned the council by its eleventh hour legal challenge.

Campaigners keen to preserve the only art deco building have been opposed to the scheme throughout.

Michael Newman of The Hippodrome Appreciation Society said the fight "will still go on".

He said supporters of the building thought the city council had behaved "outrageously" by pursuing the compulsory purchase orders.

He said:

"The planners say they want to revamp the City Centre, but they are causing more destruction than the war caused. 

"Even the Secretary of State agreed with the Inspector that the city council has underestimated the contribution that the Gala Bingo Club made to the vitality and viability of the city centre.

"It might be used as a bingo hall now but if ever Gala Bingo decide to give up the site it still has the potential to be a marvellous theatre again, it is a fine example of 1930s Art Deco, with historic and future value and the planners should recognise that."

SEE: [17 JUL 00] GALA MOUNTS LEGAL FIGHT TO SAVE HIPPODROME
SEE: MORE STORIES ON THE PHOENIX INITIATIVE