£50k work starts on lead-theft building

Scaffolding has been constructed around a landmark West Midland building as a £50,000 repair project gets under way.

Metal thieves plundered the roof of Grade II listed Red House in Great Barr for lead and tiles.

The British Trust for Conservation Volunteers has since got listed building consent for repairs. Work started a fortnight ago at the building in Red House Park in Hill Lane, and is expected to continue for several months. The house has long been a target for anti-social behaviour and vandalism.

It was raided by the metal thieves in July last year. As well as fixing the roof builders will also carry out internal repairs on the collapsed ceiling of the top floor.

Chairman of the Friends of Red House Park, Bill Gunn, aged 77, of Waddington Avenue, said: "The work is set to go on for a while so we expect the scaffolding to be up for several months.

"As well as replacing the roofing there also needs to be plastering work done inside where the ceiling has come in. Although the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers no longer operates from the building they are still the leaseholders so they are paying for the repairs."

Earlier this year plans were revealed which involved converting part of the building into a mosque, but Mr Gunn said he believed they were no longer on the table.

The British Trust for Conservation Volunteers has the lease on the building until 2023 and the organisation says that negotiations over the future leasehold interest of the building are still continuing.

A 6ft barrier was installed at the back of the house in December to deter vandals.

Meanwhile, plans are currently being drawn up to bring three dilapidated historic buildings in Sandwell, including Red House, back into use.

Manor House in Hall Green Road, West Bromwich and Corngreaves Hall in Corngreaves Road, Rowley Regis are also set to benefit through the plans.

The moves follow council approval last week for plans to plough £1.8 million of taxpayers' cash into restoring the crumbling sites.