Vandal-hit building to be demolished

A school building near Kidderminster will have to be demolished after a string of attacks by vandals who have smashed up walls and started fires.

Plans to demolish the building have been announced by Councillor Stephen Clee following the latest attack over the weekend.

Plans have now been finalised to develop the site into a multi-million pound education centre for teenagers which will be run by Kidderminster College.

Councillor Clee said he had asked for the building to be demolished as a matter of urgency as it was such a target for vandals and arsonists.

He said: "We have only just decided the future for the building with Kidderminster College. The county council has taken control of the site but this will be developed by the college. I asked for it to be demolished as a matter of urgency. This will be done imminently."

Originally there was some hope that the former school could be retained, but this idea has now been ruled out.

The school has been constantly targeted by vandals since it closed in July last year. Yobs have started fires in a link corridor and smashed down partition walls and other parts of the interior of the building.

Neighbours called police on Friday following reports of criminal damage. On Sunday night police arrested three people on suspicion of burglary. Two have been bailed and one reprimanded.

Officials hope the new education centre will put the heart back into the Horsefair, Broadwaters and Greenhill areas of the town and provide urgently needed facilities.