Fairfield Centre fire - youths seen running on roof after blaze

The fire at Fairfield Day Nursery has highlighted existing security fears at the Fairfield Learning Centre.

The nursery lost its summer house and most of its outdoor play equipment in the blaze on Saturday evening (October 28).

The fire ripped through outbuildings at the nursery on Saturday (Image: Submitted)

Police and fire investigators have since confirmed the incident is being treated as arson.

The nursery is on the same site as the Fairfield Learning Centre, which is home to adult learning services and Warndon library.

City councillor Jill Desayrah said residents have been putting up with anti-social behaviour at the centre for a long time - and that youths were seen on the roof of the building on Sunday night, just 24 hours after the nursery fire.

She has been among those calling for new fences and more CCTV cameras to be installed around the centre.

“The prompt actions of the fire service are to be applauded in bringing Saturday’s fire under control,” said Cllr Desayrah.

“The cause of this fire has still to be ascertained and I will be calling for a full investigation to establish the facts.

“Further I will be asking the Corporate and Community Panel to determine if the county council has failed in its duty to make the site secure.

“Any recommendations must be enforced as quickly as possible before someone gets hurt.

“Calls to the county council from Warndon residents to implement the long-planned security improvements at the Fairfield Centre have been ignored for months.

“Last night, once again, youths were seen on the roof of the burned out building. Safety concerns must be top of the agenda now.”

A spokesperson for Worcestershire County Council said: “We have been working to increase security measures at the Warndon Library and Fairfield Learning Services site in cooperation with the West Mercia Police.

"Planning permission has been granted for a new fence and the contractors are due to be on site in the near future. Since the fire on Saturday, we have been working with the police to support their investigations and we are continuing to secure the site within its current footprint.”

“We are absolutely devastated by the events that happened on Saturday evening,” the nursery said in a statement.

“The fire which was started deliberately has destroyed the children’s summer house, store cupboard, outdoor equipment along with damage to the exterior of the building.

“This senseless crime will have a direct impact on the children’s learning and development. We have lost most of our outdoor play equipment, children’s bikes, waterproof coats, wellington boots and wooden furniture."