Only minutes after arriving at the Fens Pool Community Centre, which was devastated in a suspected arson attack last year, a boy rushes over shouting “Fire!”. Smoke quickly billows above the canopy of trees overlooking the nearby park, breaking the blue summer sky.
This summer’s heatwaves have led to drought conditions in the West Midlands, with numerous grass fires breaking out across the region. The dried-out grasslands of Buckpool and the Fens Pool Local Nature Reserve raised concerns that flames might spread rapidly in this area, prompting swift action from local councillors Steve Edwards and Alex Dale, representatives for the Brockmoor and Pensnett ward.
A gathering of residents, children, and a young man in Greggs shorts congregated near a tree opening. On closer inspection, Cllr Edwards determined the smoke was from a controlled fire in a neighbour’s back garden. Soon, sirens announced the arrival of a fire engine, and a small brigade vehicle promptly extinguished the remaining smoke.
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Life here reflects the complex challenges faced by one of Dudley’s most deprived areas, still grappling with the aftermath of major industrial closures in the 1980s, including the Round Oak Steelworks, replaced later by Merry Hill Shopping Centre. “Our ward has some of the highest rates of suicide, child poverty, obesity, and unemployment,” said Cllr Edwards. He linked these statistics to the area’s industrial decline, which once guaranteed employment but, when it vanished, left significant deprivation.
In Brockmoor and Pensnett, once small villages now absorbed into the larger West Midlands conurbation, a strong working-class culture persists, characterised by large families. Cllr Edwards, one of six siblings himself, explains, “People with big families were born to work. It’s part of our working-class life.”
Despite a diminishing number of local pubs-from 25 down to three-the community remains tightly knit but feels left behind. Facilities such as the volunteer-led Fens Pool Community Centre offer vital support. Following the suspected arson in August last year, the community’s response was both heart-wrenching and inspiring. Rebecca ‘Becky’ Spittle, chairwoman and founder of the centre, recounted children raising funds by cleaning cars and selling cakes, while parents expressed their distress over the closure.
Facing an undervalued insurance claim and delays in funding, the centre’s recovery was accelerated thanks to £85,000 secured by Cllr Dale from Dudley Council. Reconstruction was completed by February, and doors reopened in March, with a local builder undertaking the work without upfront guarantee of payment.
Plans are underway to enhance the centre with a gaming room equipped with PlayStation and Xbox consoles, alongside two memorial benches to honour those lost. “If it wasn’t for centres like Fens Pool, there would be nothing for kids around here,” said Cllr Dale.
The councillors themselves represent an unusual partnership. Cllr Edwards, formerly Labour but now with the local Black Country Party after his departure from Labour last year, works closely with Conservative Cllr Dale. Both have consciously set aside political differences to prioritise community needs, overseeing projects such as accessibility improvements in Brockmoor Park and the installation of a £16,000 disability swing near The Dell Stadium.
Cllr Edwards expressed their unity: “We put all politics aside to focus on the ward’s issues and to generate positivity.” Cllr Dale added, “I want to help restore this area back to the proud place it was 20 or 30 years ago, rather than remaining stuck in a time warp.”
Responding to the recent fire incident, West Midlands Fire Service confirmed that on Friday 31 July just before 1:15 pm, a 4x4 brigade response vehicle attended a bin fire at a property on Tennyson Road, Pensnett. They arrived within four minutes, extinguished the fire on arrival, and provided fire safety advice to the homeowner before leaving shortly after.