A former youth club building close to Weoley Castle’s main square was gutted by fire last night (Sunday 2nd December). West Midlands Police have confirmed the fire, which was discovered at around 7.45pm, is being treated as arson.
A total of six West Midlands Fire Service crews attended the blaze at the former Square Club buildings, which sit to the rear of shops on the corner of Somerford Road and Castle Square.
West Midlands Fire Service confirmed that one of the two single storey buildings – an large outbuilding – had been completely destroyed, with some damage to the second, main building.
A Birmingham City Council run youth centre for many years, the Square Club was remembered nostalgically by many locals on the B31 Voices Facebook Page.
The buildings were sold off at auction last year and bought by an Eritrean christian church, Assembly of the Brethren in Christ Church, who hoped to move their base to Weoley Castle from their present premises in Newtown.
After the sale, the building suffered some vandalism. Weoley Community’s Alan Davis wrote: “Unfortunately, a few weeks after the purchase vandals conducted a series of targeted and malicious attacks on the building causing extensive damage.”
However, the local community and neighbourhood police came together to work with the church to clear up the site and church representatives said that local residents would be welcome to join them.
Anyone with information on last night’s fire is asked to contact West Midlands Police on Live Chat at www.west-midlands.police.uk (8am – midnight) or to call 101 any time. Please quote log number 2399 of 2nd December. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or visit www.crimestoppers-uk.org
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