Walsall run-club celebrates 40 years despite facing eviction from site council plans to demolish

The Sneyd Striders last month celebrated forty years of the run-club at their base at Vernon Way community centre in Bloxwich. Dozens of members turned up to enjoy a buffet spread, music, and plenty of cake. 

John Dargavel, who has been chairman of Sneyd Striders for a year but a member for six, says it was a very special day.

"W invited all our members and former members, including some senior honorary members," he said. "We enjoyed some music, karaoke, the bar and buffet, and it was a great party to celebrate 40 years of existence."

However, he said, the group is facing eviction from their current home at the Vernon Way site, which was formerly a school and is home to other community groups and trusts. 

Despite being given a notice to be out of the premises by the end of the year by Walsall Council, it hasn't stopped the run club in its tracks - in fact, John says it has had a 'positive effect'. 

"Although it is our ancestral home where the group started, a lot of members see it as a great opportunity to restart and move on to a second coming of the club," said the 65-year-old. 

"It has been very positive and we are all seeing it like a new move where we can do different things. The community centre was an old building, it was in disrepair and needs a lot of attention. I don't think the funding was there to give it the attention it needed."

The group came together to discuss their next moves, and John worked hard to get the best outcome. 

He added: "At our meeting in April, the first thing I did was ask for suggestions of where we could move to. We then went around each suggested location to ask if they actually wanted us there, we discussed the benefits of each location, and did a map of the postcodes of where all our members lived to see if they could all get there easily."

The group set their sights on the Short Heath Royal British Legion as their new clubhouse, and ex-military man John who served for 44 years said he was 'pleased with the outcome'.

"It was an overwhelming vote and the Royal British Legion have been extremely welcoming," he said. 

"It is in the heart of where many of our members live. Myself and the members have worked hard to get us where we are today."

The club is inviting all to join in its annual 'pudding run', where participants can choose to either do a five mile or ten mile race, and all finishers get a medal, t-shirt, and goody-bag, as well as a Christmas pudding.

It is the 38th pudding run that the club is holding but the last one from the community centre before they move.

Their move comes as 73 new homes are earmarked for the Sneyd Community Association site. Walsall Council put forward the proposals for the demolition of the buildings and erection of the houses to be built on Vernon Way.

A spokesperson for the local authority said:  “We were informed that the Community Association would close for activities in December 2024, leading to the need for the Sneyd Striders running club to relocate. The council is actively looking at options for the future use of the site."

A petition set up by a resident who wants to prevent the demolition of the school has reached more than 1,000 signatures.