Whitchurch Sports Centre: Police voiced concern over building fire two weeks ago

Concerns over a fire at the former Whitchurch Sports Centre were raised by police officers just two weeks ago, Bristol World can reveal.

In an email sent to Whitchurch ward Councillor Tim Kent, an officer at Avon and Somerset Police said they had received several reports of youths breaking into the building, and that officers responding had reported the smell of fuel from inside the building.

The officer added: “I am just a bit concerned that someone will hurt themselves or that the building will be set alight if something is not done to secure the site properly.”

Today (August 9), emergency services are responding to a major fire at the centre which started just before 10am. A dozen crews are attempting to extinguish the blaze, while nearby residents have been evacuated from their homes.

The centre is on the site of the former Whitchurch Airport which closed in 1957. The sports centre opened afterwards and had been operated by Bristol City Council until 2006, when Active Sports took it over. However, due to the age of the building it was deemed unviable to keep open, and closed during the Covid pandemic.

Under plans for housing development in Hengrove, the centre is due to be demolished.

But in recent weeks it had been at the centre of some antisocial behaviour involving young people. A fire took place in the locality on July 27, and there had been break-ins in the week before that.

In the email sent to Councillor Kent, the police officer said they were concerned over young people breaking into the site and causing danger to themselves. The youths were said to have been ‘jumping from balconies’ inside the building, and that there had been a smell of fuel inside.

The city council had previously boarded up the site. Bristol World has contacted the city council to ask when it was last secured, and how.

Councillor Kent, who was heading to the evacuation centre at St Augustine’s Church, said: “It is a sad day because there has been alot of history with that building for the community. But in recent weeks it has been targeted by young people. There will obviously be questions about if it was kept secure enough.”

For updates on the fire, click here.