End dawning for derelict Darlaston's derelict The Boat pub
Action could be taken to pull down an arson-hit pub which has been empty for more than a decade, it has been revealed.
Walsall Council is understood to be preparing to enter talks with the owners of The Boat pub, in Bentley Road South, to knock the building down for redevelopment.
A senior firefighter hit out at arsonists earlier this year over the way they were 'putting lives at risk' by setting fire to the building, after it was targeted four times in just a fortnight.
Walsall Council's portfolio holder for regeneration, Councillor Lee Jeavons, has now revealed the actions being taken by the authority.
He said: "The site has become a magnet for anti-social behaviour and because of this, the council is considering its legal powers for the building to be demolished."
Darlaston councillor Doug James said the site had to be improved for the good of the wider community and has called for action to be taken.
He said: "We have had a rash of arson attacks on the property.
"The site itself had effectively been closed off because of the development of the new road.
"Clearly it would have been impossible for development to have taken place there then.
"The road has now reopened for two months and it falls within the Darlaston Enterprise Zone.
"I haven't heard anything about how the council is going to refresh the timetable and take urgent action."
In June, watch commander at Willenhall Fire Station, Andy Minor, said it was 'frustrating' that crews had been continually tied up with putting out unnecessary blazes.
Those fires included attacks on caravans and cars parked near the building and the pub building itself.
Darlaston councillor Paul Bott, whose uncle formerly ran the pub, said fencing should be placed outside the grounds there to stop further attacks.
If it is demolished, it will be a sad end for the once prize-winning pub.
In 2005, it was named pub of the year by the Walsall Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) branch – but by 2006 it had closed.
It was soon being used by keen fly-tippers and a man was fined over £10,000 in 2009 for dumping scrap metal and car parts on the land.
Walsall Council then spent £3,700 clearing that.
Then an unauthorized car clearing company moved onto the grounds – but that was clamped down upon by the authority.
Afterwards that the company applied for permission to legally start up business there legitimately, got it but then moved on.
Nothing happened to the building even though that company had also obtained permission to flatten the pub.
It is not alone in being the only place in Darlaston to be targeted by arsonists.
Darlaston Town Football Club's main stand at Waverley Road was also attacked ahead of planned demolition taking place there.
