COMMUNITY CENTRE FIRE WASARSON (From Barry And District News)

COMMUNITY CENTRE FIRE WASARSON

A BARRY resident has called for the council to pull down a former community centre after it was deliberately set on fire.

Firefighters were called to the old wooden centre at the junction of Victoria Road and Old Mill Road, Cadoxton, at 5.10pm last Wednesday, February 22.

They spent nearly three hours tackling the fire, which was well ablaze when they arrived. There were no injuries.

The fire service, using breathing apparatus, entered the building, but were forced to evacuate when the roof of the single-storey structure began to collapse.

Ten firefighters were at work at the height of the blaze.

The resident, who lives in the vicinity but does not want to be named, said: "The council need to get it down. We are still going to get kids hanging around and it's unsafe. I feel it's dangerous and it would be too late if something happened to them. The council should sort it out."

The old community centre is part of the Cadoxton House complex. But Cadoc councillor Anne Moore stressed that the burnt-out building, which was formerly used as a nursery until it was deemed unfit under health and safety regulations, will not affect the continuing debate over the future of the house.

The fate of Cadoxton House will be under discussion at a meeting of the Vale of Glamorgan Council on Monday.

South Wales Police are treating the fire as suspicious and enquiries are still ongoing.