Hundreds of people have signed a petition to prevent the sale of Darlaston Sports and Social Club, a building owned by Walsall Council that has been closed to the public since just before Christmas 2025. Local resident Andrew Barrington launched the campaign after hearing rumours the Willenhall Street property could be sold off, warning it would be 'another nail in the coffin' for the town.
Club Closure and Community Concerns
The lease on the building was terminated by the last users of the club, and the council is now in the process of 'reporting on future options' for the property. Andrew Barrington said the authority has gone quiet over the matter, leaving residents struggling for information about the club's future.
'Nobody has given us any answers really,' he said. 'We're worried that, all of a sudden, a fence will appear and we will find out it's sold.'
Andrew described the building's deteriorating condition, noting vandalism and fly tipping. 'There's a number of fridges and freezers outside the back of the property now. It's falling into a sorry state,' he added. 'We worry it's going to fall into such degradation that the council will consider it not economically viable to retain it.'
School Parking Safety at Risk
A key concern for residents is the club's car park, which is used by a nearby primary school during pick-up and drop-off times. Andrew said a sale could make those peak times more dangerous for local children.
'There's no parking where the school is and it's a very busy drop-off and collection point for children,' he explained. 'A big caveat is we wanted to keep the building so the car park stayed within the use of the community.'
Andrew added that the building has 'big potential' and could be repurposed as a social hub. 'It could be used for a social hub where they could run support groups for people in there, for SEN support, for adult all-age learning,' he said.
Regeneration Funding Opportunity
Darlaston has been awarded £20 million of regeneration funding by central government. Andrew said this money could be used to bring the club back into use for the community.
'There's an opportunity with the regeneration funding to do something considerable with it,' he said. 'It's a long, left behind town, Darlaston. It was de-industrialised many years ago and people feel left behind. The sports and social club is one part of it, but it's still quite close to people's hearts.'
Despite the petition's support, Andrew acknowledged the financial pressures. 'I'm sure the balance in the books will be favourable to dispose of it but that's just another nail in the coffin for Darlaston,' he said.
Council Response
A Walsall Council spokesperson said: 'Following the termination of the lease on Darlaston Sports and Social Club by the previous tenant organisation, the council is now in the process of reporting on the future options for the property. The council aims to reach a plan that will balance the interest in the building from local parties, including taking into consideration the use of the car park for school drop off and pick up and the most appropriate solution for the council as the owner of the property.'
