Sedgley fire station to be put up for sale

Sedgley fire station is to be put on the market after West Midlands Fire Authority today labelled the empty building a "drain on resources."

The move ends any hopes of the building re-opening as a fire station again.

The station in Tipton Road, closed in November 2008 despite a public campaign to save it, including a 12,000-name petition.

Campaigners claimed closure would put lives at risk.

It has since swallowed tens of thousands of pounds of taxpayers' cash in rates, security fees, and repairs.

Figures released under the Freedom of Information Act show the empty site costs the authority £15,000 a year, plus an extra £5,000 in repairs following vandalism.

Dudley Councillor Julian Ryder, who sits on the Fire Authority, said: "The cost of having the building, even when it's not being used, is huge.

"It was a very difficult decision and we are sorry to see it go."

He said the authority was in talks over how to market the property, but believed it would make a considerable amount which could then be ploughed into more worthy causes.

A report presented to the authority states: "Annual costs are being incurred to maintain the site . . . this is obviously a drain on resources."