Road closed as high winds blow roof off old Brierley Hill club

Panels came off the former Pulse nightclub in Dudley Road on Saturday and landed next to people waiting at a nearby bus stop.

Nobody was injured but neighbouring businesses were forced to close while structural engineers assessed the damage and a stretch of Dudley Road remained shut on Sunday.

Councillor Serena Craigie, for Brierley Hill, said the road will remain closed until the council can be sure the area is safe.

Police and fire crews were sent to the scene, along with Dudley Council workers, and firefighters found at least six more panels with the potential to fall into the street after using a hydraulic platform to assess the damage.

An area around the road was sealed off, but the council is not working to make the roof safe and the owner of the building is yet to be traced.

West Midlands Police today refused to comment on how long the road was likely to stay closed for and nobody from the council was available for contact.

A spokeswoman for West Midlands Fire Service said: "The incident involved roofing sheets which had blown off and landed on the road narrowly missing a member of the public.

"Debris have been removed an the area was made safe.

"A hydraulic platform was used to view the area and at least six roofing boards remained with the potential to be blown off.

"The owner had not been identifies and the council will not be making the roof safe."

'It could've killed someone'

Tanya Moore was working two buildings down from Pulse at G and T Properties when she heard a "massive bang" which she thought was a car crash at about 11.50am.

Ms Moore, from Wordsley, said: "It was about 11.50am I heard a massive bang outside so I ran out thinking it was a car crash but I saw these pieces of wood which looked like fence panels in the road so I went over and tried to move it but it was really heavy.

The 30-year-old added: "Then more roof fell off as we were trying to clear it. It could have killed someone if it hit them, it was scary to be honest.

"I shut our shop about 2pm for health and safety reasons."

Vagabonds Bar, the nightclub next door to the old Pulse building, did not open on Saturday night and posted on Facebook earlier in the day: "During today’s high winds part of the roof of next door's building (Formerly Pulse) was blown into the road. The council and fire service have made the decision to temporarily close the road while it is secured.

"At the time there were some people at the bus stop too, it landed near them but luckily nobody was hurt which is a miracle in itself!

"Unfortunately all of the surrounding businesses (including Vagabonds Bar) have had to close during the day.

"Structural engineers are en-route and will assess the damage. We will then be informed whether ours and other businesses will be allowed to open tonight.

"We will keep you updated and let you know when a decision has been reached."

The news came as the Met Office issued two yellow weather warnings for wind.

More wet and windy weather is expected to sweep across Britain next week, with forecasters warning that strong gusts could damage trees, power lines and cause travel disruption.

The listed Pulse building has been empty since it closed in 2014 when it had its licence revoked by Dudley Council after police said the club had become a haven for gangs.

The following year a gunman who had opened fire outside the notorious nightclub was jailed for 10 years.

Taniyha Beckford, of Duchess Road, Ladywood, Birmingham, fired shots at a man in his 30s as he sat in his car outside the nightclub. The victim escaped uninjured.