'Such a shame': Blaze crushes hopes for play centre future

These are the tearful words of a mother who had countless ‘happy memories’ of Old Fallings Adventure Playground – also known as Peach Tree – in Wolverhampton.

She was among those dismayed to hear a huge fire there during the early hours of Sunday morning has now reduced the former playground to a burned out shell.

The fire broke out at 3am on Sunday and quickly took over the green space, which is surrounded by homes. Residents were told to keep their windows closed due to the smoke.

Bilston mother Claire Dainty, whose young son benefitted from the specialist facility during its days of being open, said it was a ‘really, really sad day’.

It closed for good in summer 2016 after a spate of vandalism attacks, but locals were always hopeful it would re-open.

Claire, aged 41, said: “I shouldn’t be upset after all this time but I am. It’s sad. I’ve got so many happy memories there.

“My son has severe autism and there was nowhere else like it I could take him. “The nearest was Cannock but even that wasn’t the same.

“But to be honest, I’m not surprised this happened.

“Since it’s been closed it’s just been a sitting duck, waiting for vandals or a fire.

“It’s such a shame.

“We need a place for disabled children to go – where there are changing places toilets and specialised equipment, but now that’s all gone.

“It makes no sense. It cost a fortune to make, and the council left it to rot. It makes absolutely no sense.

“In a way, this is like the final nail in the coffin.

“There’s no coming back now. We tried our best to save it but we just didn’t have the people or the capacity.”

In July 2016 the centre was closed after vandals went on a rampage, smashing sensory equipment, doors and windows, and wrecking polytunnels and fruit beds in the grounds. They also started a fire and smeared excrement over a wall.

It was the latest in a string of attacks on the site over the last three months – and the community was left crushed. Wolverhampton Council was forced to close the building due to the severity of the attack leaving users campaigning at the gates at the time for it to be reopened. But it has not been used since.

The special, gated park is surrounded by homes in Low Hill – and was also once used by the children who lived in the neighbourhood. Once it closed down there were plans for the area to be re-developed into homes.

Fire investigators were yesterday still picking through the debris to try and determine how the blaze started.