I’ve been contacted by a few people concerned at events ongoing at the old Oak Park Leisure Centre in Walsall Wood, where a large number of fire engines, smoke and other alarming stuff has been seen: fear not, it’s a training exercise by Bloxwich Fire Station.
The exercise, called Antioch (who comes up with these names?) has been documented by @westmidsfire on Twitter here.
The exercise ran by @bloxwichfire has started. Don't be alarmed if you see lots of Fire Engines by Oak Park Leisure Centre, Walsall Wood
— West Midlands Fire (@WestMidsFire) October 30, 2016
Good progress being made at Ex Antioch over 12 casualties rescued so far @WestMidsFire pic.twitter.com/oyJZobBKXd
— Sonia Cox (@Sonskii67) October 30, 2016
Emergency services often undertake training exercises in disused buildings – they previously used Greenwood House in Burntwood for sniffer dog training and the former mental hospitals at Burntwood and Great Barr before their demolition.
If you’re wondering about the eventual demolition of the old Oak Park and completion of landscaping, I’m reliably informed this should be underway within the next couple of months as technical issues are resolved with the site.
