Eyesore social club site is demolished
The site of an eyesore fire-hit former West Bromwich social club, which fell into disrepair after a £1 million overhaul failed to materialise, has been demolished.
Sandwell Council took control of Millfields Social Club last month after a legal wrangle with the former owners. Yesterday bulldozers moved in to clear the site in Crookhay Lane. The legal action to seize the site came after development stalled and the demolition has been hailed a victory for residents who said their lives have been blighted by the eyesore.
Permission to transform the site was approved in January 2005. But, despite the authority threatening action to speed up work, development was repeatedly stalled.
Once the council took hold of the site last month the borough's safety boss said the priority was securing the site to make sure intruders could not get in.
Welcoming the bulldozing of the site, ward Councillor Olwen Jones said: "For several years now this has been a blot on the landscape and the hard work by residents and local councillors has paid off with the council taking legal action which is always a long process, but it means that the site will be made safe and the future use of the site will be determined in the near future."
The former club premises was badly damaged in a fire seven years ago and was due to be transformed into a £1 million club but instead stood idle.
The council served a notice for the work to be carried out in May 2008 but no action was taken.
The revamp began again in February 2010 but developers downed tools just three weeks later.
When the council took control of the site last month a notice was put up stating that the tenancy of the premises had been forfeited to its landlord and freeholder. Council bosses previously said the legal wrangle and demolition of the site could cost more than £100,000.
