Just thought you all would like to know that there was an article in the Express & Star (local paper) about Sandwell Valley, I can't find it on their site so have had to type it out!
The cost of damage to a Black Country beauty spot destroyed by arsonists has hit £500,000, it has been revealed.
The news of the scale of the damage to the visitor centre of the RSPB reserve in Sandwell Valley comes at it emerged the site has been a target for vandalsim since last month's blaze, forcing the reserve to emply night-time secutiry guards to patrol the site.
The fire was started between 5pm on March 26 and 2:30am on March 27.
A portable toilet outside the visitor centre was set alight and the fire spread to into the building, destroying half its roof. The visitor centre, which is located off Tanhouse Lane in Great Barr has remained closed since.
The attack came as a major £120,000 re-furbishment was being carried out.
RSPB assistant site manager Chris Edwards said security had been stepped up after a number of other attacks. he said: "We have had a number of other instances of vandalism on the site in the last few days. Somebody has tried to break into the hide and somebody has built a shelter next to our storage unit here and have used materials which they have found elsewhere.
Someone has also set fire to the reed bed - the area the size of a football pitch was destroyed and they have ripped off a bird box.
We have now taken on a security company and they are going to patrol the site in the evenings just so that we can safeguard the rest of the site for the community and the thousands of people who enjoy this every year. because we are a charity it is all costs that we could do without," he said.
He added there were now plans to erect a temporary classroom so school bookings and other activities would not need to be cancelled.
Police have said the damage is estimated to be at least half a million pounds. He said "We are still calculating the cost of the damage. The underwriters are with us at the moment to discuss the way forward."
Anyone with any information about the attacks should call Sgt Kym Brieley at West Bromwich police station on 045 113 5000 ext 79116370.
I don't know if I was more saddened or sickened by reading this article; not only has some <insert chosen word here> set fire to the visitor centre they've also gone onto cause a trail of destruction across the whole reserve!
It makes me so angry. I hope these lowlives are caught and given the punishment they deserve!
I'm hoping to pay a visit to Sandwell tomorrow and will see the devastation caused with my own eyes. Such a shame.
Hello Sooty,
I'm afraid you've missed my point entirely. I simply pointed out that, in my opinion, the lack of investment by successive gonernments in both our education sector and our communities, on top of a culture of pure selfishness and greed has resulted, in sections of our society having little consideration or compassion for others. As for the "factory fodder", I'm one of them!
Most of my working life's been in the blue collar sector, and, living on a grotty housing estate myself, I witness the impact of decades of "market forces" every day. Drug abuse is everywhere, children roam the streets at night with cans and bottles of strong drink. I myself have been a victim of a gang of eight 15 year olds, who attempted to assault me because I remonstrated with them for urinating in my front garden! Luckily, I managed to stay on my feet. Had I gone down, I might not be writing this now! My mother, who had a brick thrown at her by one of these scum, at 80 years old and suffering from heart disease, wasn't as fortunate; the shock was too much for her, and she died barely a month later.
So I think I've got a pretty good insight of life at the sharp end, don't you? And, as I asked at the end of my last post, what is the difference between those at the bottom who commit crime and those at the top? The difference is, of course, an expensive solicitor! To sum up my point: Unless we all drastically change the way we treat our world, in both a human, and a broader sense, instances such as Sandwell Valley will continue to blight our society.
MC
Yes Micky sorry I missed the point and I commisserate with living somewhere like that but got the impression you thought all factory workers lowlife and think if you read your comment you will see why I saw it like that but I was obviously reading it wrong.
Thanks for that Sooty,
It's always difficult to construct one's argument in the space of a few rapidly cobbled together lines. Misunderstandings are common on this kind of forum as irony doesn't come over well that often. Mea culpa.
I honestly believe that an interest in the natural world can be a way out of the mire for many of these children; it certainly was for me! OK, maybe not economically, but definitely in a "spiritual", and intellectual sense. However (not to labour the point, I hope), I believe that there are those in the "higher echelons" of our society that loathe the idea of such empowerment. I ask you to imagine for a minute if private health and education didn't exist. I personally think that the well off would make damn sure our state institutions were well funded!
Thanks again, all the best,
Unknown said:I believe that there are those in the "higher echelons" of our society that loathe the idea of such empowerment.
T'was ever thus, Micky, and t'will ever be so. You only have to research the history of education and the 19th Century struggle to bring education to the masses (and to girls) to realise this.
Cheers, Linda.
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Absolutely Sparrow,
I was just trying to tone down a touch, lest it should sound like a political rant. Oops, too late!