Arsonists strike at former hospital

Jan 8 2007 By Neil Elkes, Birmingham Mail

A DERELICT former mental hospital building has once again been targeted by arsonists - despite extra security at the site.

Seven fire engines and crews were needed to tackle the blaze at the former St Margaret's Hospital off Queslett Road in Great Barr.

Security was stepped up at the site last year when construction work began on a new housing estate.

It had been derelict for almost a decade during which time it has been the target of hundreds of arson and vandal attacks.

The fire, at 9.30am on Saturday, was started in one of the site's larger main buildings, at the top of the hill.

The century-old asylum buildings are due to be demolished as the construction of more than 445 Bovis Homes is well under way.

A crew from Perry Barr Fire Station was the first called to the fire but needed a further six engines once the scale of the blaze was discovered.

Ever since St Margaret's Mental Health Hospital closed a decade ago the empty site had been a playground for vandals and proved a headache for police and fire services with scores of incidents each year.