Police are investigating after a man died at a hostel in Birmingham’s Hagley Road
Edgbaston MP Preet Kaur Gill has described the death of a resident in a Hagley Road hostel as a ‘horrific tragedy’.
The man died after a fire broke out in a room at the supported accommodation hostel early yesterday, Friday May 9. It is located two doors down from Fairlawns, a well-known hostel in the area, and operated by Nigel Clarke Properties Ltd, a company providing supported and hostel accommodation in Edgbaston, Aston, Erdington and Yardley.
Ms Gill said she visited the scene after being alerted to the tragedy.
READ MORE: Man dies after early-morning Hagley Road fire
“It is a really horrific incident,” she said. “We need to now understand what happened and why, and ensure other residents there and nearby are safe and protected.”
She said four other residents of the property were safely evacuated and rehoused in nearby hostels. The fire was isolated to a room on the fourth floor of the property.
West Midlands Ambulance Service said it was called to the ground floor of the property at 4.30am, Friday, but nothing could be done to save the man.
Five fire crews were sent to the building, which is near the junction with Sandon Road. Two neighbouring properties were evacuated as a precaution.
The A456 Hagley Road was briefly closed as a result, with traffic backed up from B4182 Sandon Road to Meadow Road.
Ms Gill has raised multiple concerns about the proliferation of exempt accommodation in the Hagley Road area, amid concerns many residents require intensive support that is not always available in the supported housing sector.
Preet Gill, Labour MP for Edgbaston(Image: Nick Wilkinson/Birmingham Live)
She said: “The area where this occurred is a hotspot for ambulance and police call-outs, with high levels of anti-social behaviour, drug use and prostitution, linked to the proliferation of exempt accommodation and hostels. We need to ensure that vulnerable people in these properties are safe.”
She said she had written to Birmingham City Council to urge it to carry out visits to ensure residents in similar hostels in the area were safe and supported.
She also posted a social media message: “My thoughts are with the person who tragically lost his life in a fire that broke out in a HMO on the Hagley Road… I have visited the site of the fire and will be working with the emergency services to find out how this happened.”
West Midlands Police confirmed it was investigating following the death.
A spokesman said: “We’re investigating after the discovery of a man’s body following a serious fire on Hagley Road.
“We were called to the property, near the junction with Sandon Road, just before 4.30am, Friday. A man’s body was found at the property, and we are working to establish the circumstances of his death and the cause of the fire.
“We are supporting the man’s loved ones at this difficult time.” Anyone with information should contact the police via Live Chat or 101, quoting log 20/234597/25.