Work to start at Wednesbury lorry smash club

Polish lorry driver Henryk Jackowski, 55, was killed when his vehicle smashed into the Royal British Legion base in Church Hill.

Five-months on from the tragedy, the club said members are still coming to terms with what happened.

Work to the repair the damaged part of the building will finally start on Monday – months later than originally expected.

Chairman Leigh Jones, 39, said it had been a 'tremendously difficulty year' for the club.

"We had hoped to have the work completed by now but it has taken the insurance companies involved longer to work things out than expected," he said.

"All of the contracts have now been signed and the bricklayers will begin work on Monday. Hopefully once that is done we can get back to normal.

"The damaged part of the building is still boarded up like it was just after the accident. We have put some fencing up around it to act as security but it has been the same since December."

He said the smash had impacted the club in many ways – with around £2,000 lost in takings over the course of the year due to the loss of facilities.

"The lorry went into the games room which is where the snooker table was," he said.

"Because we have not had that for five months a lot of members who use to play a game of snooker have gone to other places.

"It is disappointing but understandable. The other room, which is more the family area, is still in use but not having the games room has been a blow.

"I would say we have at least lost around a couple of thousand. Once the facility is restored the members will come back."

But Mr Jones said some of those who had been in the building on the night of the crash had only come back on a few occasions.

"It is very sad but people were understandably very upset and some were frightened by what happened.

"Although they have been back since it has not been on any many occasions as they used to.

"It has been a very difficult year but hopefully we have turned a corner now."