Fire destroys former Canley Sports and Social club

A former social club building at a sports ground in Coventry has been destroyed in a "severe" fire.



Eight fire engines were called to the old Canley Social Cub on Marler Road at 00:15 BST.

The blaze took hold of the two-storey brick building, which local residents said had been boarded up and unused since July.

Crews are currently damping down at the scene and an investigation is under way into the cause.

Incident commander for West Midlands Fire Service, Dean Yates, said: "My understanding at the moment is that there have been no injuries.

"It's obviously a very severe fire exacerbated by a gas main that was difficult to isolate in the early stages of the incident.

Local resident Alice Yaxley said: "I was here at a children's party just before the end of last term, it was in the dance hall… It was really popular."

Huge fire destroys Canley Sports and Social Club



Firefighters from across the Midlands tackled a massive blaze at what was once one of Coventry’s biggest social clubs.

As many as 60 firefighters worked together to fight back the flames at Canley Sports & Social Club, in Marler Road, which were first spotted in the early hours of Sunday morning.

A total of 10 fire engines were in attendance at the height of the fire, but there was nothing they could do to stop the roof from falling in as the heat proved too much for the two-storey social club, which has stood empty for a number of weeks after closing and being put up for sale.

One neighbour who watched on in shock as the flames took hold of the club, but who wished not to be named, said: “It was just chaos. The fire engines keep streaming down here and the flames were huge.

“The noise, not just from the fire engines but also the fire itself, was really loud and it seemed like they [firefighters] were never going to win.

“It was a shame when the club closed as a lot of people went there and now they will be distraught.”

Officers from the police, National Grid and Severn Trent were also called and West Midlands Police have confirmed they are investigating whether or not the fire was started due to a ruptured gas main.

Richie Moore, watch commander at Canley fire station, said: “A crew arrived just after midnight and realised that this was something a lot more than just a fire alarm going off.

“At the height of the fire there were 10 fire engines from all across the Midlands and also a high platform helping to fight the fire.

“During the night the roof collapsed as well, but no-one was inside or hurt, and after that we concentrated on more defensive firefighting.

“The gas and electricity board came along and isolated the sources, however the place will have to be demolished as the roof is unsafe as it is. The place is still smouldering as well so we will keep our eye on it.”

He confirmed that an investigation would be launched.


The aftermath of the fire

New arson attack on former Canley Sports & Social Club

Police are investigating yet another suspected arson attack at the former Canley Sports & Social Club.

The club in Marler Road was destroyed by a massive blaze in September last year which saw as many as 60 firefighters from across the Midlands tackling the fire at its height.

And now fire crews in the city were called to the club again on Saturday evening at around 5pm after someone is believed to have set fire to sofas in the club’s changing rooms.

Firefighters were at the scene for about an hour and a half, while officers from West Midlands Pollice began their investigations.

Anyone with information can call police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Canley social club set for demolition



One of Coventry’s biggest social clubs looks set to finally be demolished and the land sold off by council chiefs.

Semi-derelict Canley Sports and Social Club has stood in ruins for more than a year after an arson attack in September 2013 saw the roof collapse, and the club has been fenced off ever since.

Having become a target for anti-social behaviour, Coventry City Council officials have decided to take the site in Marler Road off the market and now want to knock it down and put the land up for sale.

The plans will be discussed by the cabinet member for business, enterprise and employment, Coun Kevin Maton, on Monday, and have been recommended for approval.

The club had been on a 99-year lease since June 1949 to Calco Pubs Limited, before they went into administration some months ago.

This came after the arson attack last year which saw firefighters from all over the Midlands called to tackle the huge blaze in the early hours of September 1.

As many as 60 firefighters were at the scene at one time, along with ten fire engines and a high platform to fight the fire.

The administrator put in charge of the business oversaw the demolition of the parts of the building that were seriously damaged and put up a fence to keep the remaining parts of the club secure.

It had been hoped that a new lease holder could be found and the property was set to be auctioned in mid-September for an estimated guide price of between £20,000 and £30,000.

However, the city council decided that reinstating a sports and social club in the area would not be sustainable, with the main reason being that it would be in direct competition with the nearby Xcel Sports Centre in Mitchell Avenue.

Therefore, the property was withdrawn from auction and the lease was surrendered to the council by the administrator, ahead of the likely demolition of the site and onward sale for redevelopment.

If approval is granted at Monday’s meeting the council hope to complete demolition of the club in November this year, gain planning permission for the site early in the new year and then complete a sale by March or April 2015.

Canley Sports and Social Club bulldozed



A Coventry social club which has been derelict for more than a year has finally been demolished.

The bulldozers finally arrived at Canley Sports and Social Club, in Marler Road, on Monday and the once popular club was pulled to the ground.

The decision to demolish the club was taken by Coventry City Council after arsonists struck at the venue in September 2013 - as many as 60 firefighters were at the scene at the height of the fire, along with ten fire engines and a high platform.

The attack saw the roof collapse and the building has stood in ruins ever since and has become a target for anti-social behaviour and further arson attacks.

Council chiefs decided against reinstating a sports and social club at the site, stating that it would not be sustainable with the main reason being that it would be in direct competition with the nearby Xcel Sports Centre in Mitchell Avenue.

Instead the decision was taken to clear the site and give it a new lease of life through planning permission and then sell it off to a developer.