Chard Tae Kwon-Do finds new home after fire

Chard Tae Kwon-Do, which was badly damaged in the fire that also hit the PMBL factory on Leach Road last month, has been running its activities from Buck House Academy since Monday, March 18.

Nina, the club owner and operator, said they “have been blown away” by the support they have received ever since.

Earlier this week a message from the Tae Kwon-Do school read: “Welcome to our new home.

“We have been blown away by the support we have received since the fire, thank you all so very much.

“Our amazing team has worked endlessly to turn four offices into our new Dojang in just 21 days.

“We have a stack of ‘thank you’ to make and decorating still to do but we’re in. Thank you all so very much.”

Crews battling the fire last month (Image: Jakub Krolik)

After the fire, the club held its classes at Holyrood Academy and Manor Court for three weeks while looking for a new home.

Holyrood Academy offered to help and headteacher Dave MacCormick said: “I am very pleased that the school is able to help Chard Tae Kwon-Do Club to carry on running their activities after what has been a terrible shock for them.

“I know that our friends at Manor Court Primary School are also stepping in to provide a venue for some activities.

“Chard is a great community which I know will pull together to make sure that club members can keep pursuing their passions.”

The fire broke out on Sunday, February 25 on Leach Road in Chard, damaging the PMBL building and Chard Tae Kwon-Do.

A Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson later said the fire is being treated as accidental.

To tackle the blaze, the service initially sent six fire crews, which then became eight, and asked residents to close their windows and doors due to the smoke.

The Chard Tae Kwon-Do club is now based on the second floor of Buck House Academy on Holyrood Street in Chard.