Work goes on to get Pensnett community centre ravaged by fire back up and running
The people behind a community centre which suffered tens of thousands of pounds of damage after a severe fire have spoken of the progress being made to rebuild and reopen.
Around 20 firefighters tackled the blaze at Fens Pool Community centre on Chapel Street in Pensnett in the early hours of August 19 after the fire alarm was triggered by smoke and flames.
Arsonists are suspected to have started the fire, which appeared to have started near a tree at the rear of the premises, causing tens of thousands of pounds damage and a fun day to be cancelled.
The incident immediately prompted an outpouring of support with around 70 residents turning up at the scene to lend a hand to get the clean up operation under way at the centre which is owned and operated by the Fens Pool Voluntary Association.
An online fundraising page was also been set up towards the cost of replacing the roof and carrying out repairs with the aim of "helping put a smile back on faces", with more than £5,000 raised, while the centre also received an award of £2,500 from the Severn Trent Neighbourgood Scheme.
The work have been ongoing since the fire to renovate and refurbish the centre, with chair Rebecca Spittle and vice chair Tracey Bowen among those working to get the centre ready to reopen in mid-February, and they said the work was coming along nicely.
They said: "At the moment, we're on week five of the schedule, so in terms of the building, the roof has now been put on and we're completely watertight for the winter.
"Alongside that, the first fix electrics have gone in, with a full rewire, which is really quick, and the work has begun on the first fix for the plumbing, plus all the smoke-damaged items have been removed and sealed in the walls, so that the smoke smell isn't there any more.
"The plasterboard and skimming is due to be completed soon and we hope that it's going to be completed by mid-February, as long as there aren't any issues."
In terms of plans for the centre once reopened, both Ms Spittle and Ms Bowen said there weren't a lot of plans at present, although they did say there would be a grand opening event, and put out a message of thanks to everyone who had supported the centre.
They said: "We will continue to do the bingo for the elderly and we'll have activities for younger people, but there's not a lot of plans yet until we are sure of the opening date.
"We do want to send our gratitude out to the community that's been behind us since the fire happened and donated to us because they have been amazing for what they have done.
"There's been a lot of work done to get to where we are now and it's just those final steps to get the centre ready to reopen."
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