NICK THE BLOG - BLOG 5
This blog is probably going to offend someone due to me saying something which has not been brought up in the news. However this is an opinion of mine and it's also a concern from a Kidderminster resident who has spoken to me in confidence. This is a very serious matter and I am being very cafeful how I word this subject.
FIRE AT DISUSED SCHOOL CREATED BY...VANDALS? OR ACCIDENTAL BLAZE?


Right on Thursday March 27th 2008 at 14:00pm I recieved a copy of the 'Kidderminster Shuttle', on page seven I read an artical entitled 'Vandals target old school site'. In the artical it stated that the Conservative Wyre Forest Disrtrict councillor and Cabinet member for planning (Mr Stephen Clee) had inspected Sladen Middle School after a complaint was made about damage made to the disused Sladen CE Middle School in Kidderminster by vandals.

It was reported in the artical that a Mr Syed Ahmed was witness to teenage vandals congregating on the site and that I'm sure was one of the reasons for contacting Mr Stephen Clee......everything making sense so far? Right.

Now here's a quote from a gentleman taken from the artical

"Kids are coming on a regular basis. My family is scared of what might happen. They could set fire to the building next"

Quote source:
Thursday/March 27th 2008
Kidderminster shuttle/times & Stouport News (Page 7)

Now here's what's bothering me, on the night of this story being in the paper (well early hours of the morning), I recieved a messege from someone who lives in the same street telling me that they could see part of Sladen was on fire......

Now this is a police matter. Arson to be exact, along with breaking and entering, it could however be an accidental fire. But I find it rather strange that on the same day a person suggests in a newspaper the school being set on fire, that the very same school gets set on fire hours later.

I'm not pointing any fingers at anyone, but it sounds more like organised crime than teenage yobs. It sounds very convenient and lazy to just blame kids. I'm sure kids do break in quite often, as the witness said they go there on a 'regular basis'. So why burn the place or even go back there if it's been reported that day in a big story in a newspaper? Doesn't make sense that they read the shuttle and thought "hmmm..that's a good idea, lets go down and set fire to the building". Plus if they didn't read the paper that came out that day then what are the chances that they'd change their routine and set fire to the building only hours after it was suggested in a newspaper that came out that same day?

I used to go to this school and I hope despite whatever happens about the vandal situation that this disused school is turned into a place of education for young people. It was a great school and if it was turned into anything other than that it'd be a crime in itself.

I'd like to hear peoples opinion on this serious matter. Remember this is my opinion and I'm within my rights, however I'd love to hear other peoples opinions, it's wise to listen. I also recommend that if anyone knows something about this fire that they report it as soon as possible. There still is the chance that this fire was accidental. We'll have to see what the experts say, but how strange for there to be a fire at this school only hours after it being suggested in print....