Demolition at pub bought by care firm

The Neachells pub on Willenhall Road has stood derelict since it closed its doors in June last year.

Now it has emerged the land has been bought by Select Healthcare Developments Ltd, a family-run residential care home operator based in Brierley Hill.

Earlier this week, bulldozers and construction workers moved on to the site and began to haul down the roof of the building.

Select Healthcare Developments Ltd, which is owned by brothers Scott and Brett Bernard who grew up in Tettenhall, has yet to put in a planning application regarding their plans for the land.

Councillor Keith Inston, who represents East Park ward, said he was glad to see work was finally starting on the site.

He said: "It has been an eyesore for a long time now and it is good to see some movement in terms of razing the building to the ground. I just hope that when the application is submitted the proposal will represent something that fits in with the local area and is a good match for the community."

The pub's closure came as a shock at the time, with regulars saying it was trading as normal in the days leading up to the shut-down with no indication of what was about to happen.

Weeks earlier, a 53-year-old man had been left with serious head injuries when trouble flared on the pub car park.

It is unclear if the fighting was linked to the decision to close the pub.

In February this year the pub was set ablaze a suspected arson attack.

Fire crews spent more than three hours tackling the fire in the building's first floor.

Select Healthcare Developments Ltd runs 23 care homes across the country, with facilities geared towards residents with physical disabilities and mental health issues as well as elderly care.

The firm recently opened ventures in Baschurch, Shropshire and Taverham in Norfolk.

In 2012 Scott Barnard was involved in a failed bid to develop the city's derelict former eye infirmary with Poundland founder Steve Smith and property mogul Rodger Danks.

Along with his brother, Mr Barnard was also behind the £1.5m redevelopment of The Drawing Room Bar and Grill at Tettenhall's Mount Hotel.

A string of pubs have closed down in the city in recent years. In March the British Oak on the same road was shut down to be transformed into two three-bedroom luxury flats.

And the Halfway House on Tettenhall Road was redeveloped as a pharmacy having been derelict for eight years.