Hopes high over fire station revamp plan
Tuesday 3rd February 2009, 12:30PM GMT.
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Shropshire fire service bosses are hoping work will start by the summer on a £4 million scheme to refurbish the Shrewsbury headquarters and station.
The dilapidated St Michael’s Street site is cramped and badly in need of redevelopment.
Members of the Shropshire and Wrekin Fire and Rescue Authority decided last month to proceed with the scheme rather than moving to another site which could have cost more than £10 million.
Another option considered was moving the HQ to Telford. Also discussed was the idea of splitting the HQ functions between St Michael’s Street and the Telford fire station site at Stafford Park.
Authority chairman Councillor Stuart West has described the refurbishment plan as “good value for money” for the taxpayers of Shropshire.
The cost will be met through Government grant and efficiency savings made over the past few years.
Chief Fire Officer Alan Taylor told authority members that professional advice had been taken about relocating the HQ and station and it was felt it would be more expensive to resite the facilities elsewhere.
Deputy Chief Officer Paul Raymond said today that work could start by the summer and was expected to take between 18 months to two years to complete.
It would be a facility with little impact on the environment but would also be “hard wearing”, requiring little upkeep in future.
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I first served there in 1969,while the old station was still open in the centre of the town so it has lasted 40 years I do not think any one can complain that they have not had their moneys worth out of the building
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Well they certainly have opted for common sense in refurbishing the current building, which certainly has been around a long time now and might be creaking a little at the seams with all these extra admin jobs that these organisations now deem essential nowadays.
Getting rid of a few non-jobs might have been cheaper – the building would be able to accomodate everyone more comfortably then…. ;-)
Seriously, this was the right move. Doubly so when any sensible person must see that the writing is on the wall for Shropshire Fire and Rescue as an organisation. Once the Regional Control eventually is open, they’ll move to a Regional Fire Service in double quick time.
A shame, because it almost certainly won’t work as well as the current organisation. Not that this will mean anything to the Government (whoever that is by that time)!
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