Dudley residents would be forgiven for forgetting that the UK is in the middle of the biggest spending cut plans in history. The area is to be part of a major redevelopment project with the council buying up two significant buildings including the Gala Bingo club.

The Royal Brierley Crystal site on Tipton Road and the former Gala Bingo building on Castle Hill have been purchased as part of the council's regeneration plans for the area.

The former Gala Bingo will either be knocked down and redeveloped on a smaller size or the rear of the building removed to provide better views to the castle. Part of the regeneration plan includes a new access and arrival area for the Dudley Zoological Gardens, the Black Country Living Museum.

. "We've got a large number of plans over the coming years and we've been very lucky we have purchased the buildings for very small sums of money," Councillor Les Jones, cabinet member for regeneration told the BBC.

"The purchases demonstrate the council's drive and determination to bring about significant change to Dudley town centre."

"The acquisition of these two sites is quite important because if you come into Dudley the first thing you see is a huge brick wall which is the site of the Gala Bingo” claimed Peter Suddock, chief executive of Dudley Zoological Gardens.

"That coming down will give a clear view of the castle which I think will make it a much more dramatic view of Dudley when you come in.