News
Another fire at historic Willenhall pub
Just 24 hours after a Willenhall councillor and the Campaign for Real Ale demanded that Walsall Council take action to preserve a Grade II listed pub, a mysterious fire engulfed a nearby building leading to a closure of an alleyway due to concerns that the building may collapse.
The famous Bell Inn in the Market Place, said to be the oldest pub in the borough, closed four years ago following another mysterious fire and has remained boarded up ever since. In October 2006, Walsall Council issued the owner with an Urgent Works Notice and the Development Control Committee were told that the council had legal powers to take action against the owners of listed buildings who fail to properly maintain them. The council now says that it is having difficulties in tracing the current owner.
The day before the latest fire, the Walsall branch of Camra were joined by Willenhall South Councillor Carl Creaney in announcing a public meeting to discuss the future of pub and to launch a petition calling for the restoration of the historic hostelry. Speaking before the fire, Camra pub preservation officer, Keith Watkins said:
“Sufficient time has elapsed for something to be done with The Bell but nothing happens. Interest has been expressed in reopening it as a pub. Unless Walsall council are prepared to take urgent and severe action against the owner it will be too late to save The Bell.”
The following day, Walsall council announce the closure of Bell Alley as a result of a fire. Jo Sheeran, senior rights of way officer, said: “We notified building control officers of a fire at the building on Thursday night. It appears that the fire has caused damage to the woodwork around the doorway, which has caused the brickwork to become unstable.
“The order will remain in force for three weeks but can be extended for up to 6 months if needed. We are now in the process of trying to contact the owner of the building who is responsible for making it safe.”
The Bell Inn is the latest Grade II listed building to be allowed to decay and then suffer a mysterious fire. In August 2007, Shannons Mill in Walsall town centre was intended to be the centre-piece of a multi-million pound development, but was destroyed in a suspected arson attack.
Urgent Works Notices were ignored by the anonymous owners of the former Mellish Road Methodist church near the Arboretum. The building was allowed to decay and yet another arson attack left demolition as the only option. A property developer now intends to build luxury flats on the site.
As more and more pubs across the borough have been forced to close, there has been a spate of arson attacks on vacant licensed premises and although Walsall council have legal powers to act against negligent owners, officers and portfolio holders claim that they are not able to intervene or even name the property owners.
Bell Alley is one of the narrow passageways that links Willenhall Market Place to the recently opened Morrison’s superstore. Diane Coughlan of the Willenhall Heritage Trust said:
“This is the oldest pub in the borough and the closure of the alleyway couldn’t have come at a worse time as this is one of the access points from the new Morrison’s into the town centre.
“I’d like to see Walsall council use their power to seize the buildings, repair them and charge the owner. With more people coming into the town with the opening of Morrisons, we cannot afford for this alleyway and the pub to fall into more disrepair.”
The public meeting to discuss the future of the pub takes place at the School of Hope, Lichfield Street, Willenhall on Monday February 8 starting at 7-30pm.