Former Oswestry leisure centre targeted by arsonists

A vigilant dog walker raised the alarm after seeing youths start a fire at the rear of the former Oswestry Leisure Centre in College Road.

Firefighters say without his actions the building could have gone up in flames.

The attack on Thursday night was the latest arson attempt on the derelict building, which is in the middle of a residential area and next to the Walford and North Shropshire College.

Shropshire Fire and Rescue service is now working with the police to look at ways to make the building less prone to fire risk.

The leisure centre closed in 2011 to make way for a new centre close by on the Shrewsbury Road.

Since then the 1970s building, opened by Princess Anne, has lain empty and has fallen into disrepair.

Oswestry Fire Station crew manager, Adrian Bowen, said the alarm was raised just after 6.30pm on Thursday.

"Luckily a gentleman walking his dog saw some youths making a fire at the rear of the old leisure centre building and alerted the fire service."

"If it wasn't for his prompt actions there could have been a major fire."

Mr Bowen said the youths ran off.

"When we arrived the fire was smouldering and it was extinguished with buckets of water," he said.

"This is an area of concern for us as there have been numerous fires started around the building, which is boarded up."

"The fire service is currently in talks with the police about how we can bring in security measures to prevent these arson attacks.

"We would also appeal to people living in the area to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity in the area."

In February last year trespassers who broke into the building set fire within the swimming pool area of the building.

Fears that people could be sleeping rough or playing inside the derelict property prompted a major alert with half a dozen fire crews responding to the 999 call.

Since then the building has been make more secure by the owner, a development company.