COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL
GOVERNMENT News Release (161) issued by The Government News Network
on 2 July 2008
A £66.4million
investment to build 16 new fire stations in the North West was
confirmed by Communities and Local Government today.
21st Century fire stations will replace ageing, inappropriate or
poorly located buildings and facilities in Cumbria, Lancashire and
Merseyside under the North West Fire and Rescue Service PFI project.
To continue to drive down fires and fire deaths the
state-of-the-art buildings will provide modern facilities for
hosting public fire safety events.
Firefighters will enjoy better working conditions thanks to the
up-to-date amenities designed for both men and women.
The project will deliver:
* Cumbria: 5 new stations - Carlisle East, Carlisle West (two
stations), Penrith (incorporating County Council Emergency
Planning Unit & Emergency Control Room) and Workington;
* Lancashire: 4 new stations - Blackburn, Burnley, Chorley and Fleetwood;
* Merseyside: 7 new stations - Belle Vale, Birkenhead,
Bootle/Netherton, Formby, Kirkdale (incorporating an Operational
Resource Centre), Newton le Willows, Southport (including an
ambulance station).
Fire Minister Parmjit Dhanda said:
"It's important that we have modern fire stations based
at the heart of our communities, ones that welcome the public as
well as keeping them safe.
"That's why I'm delighted to confirm this
multi-million pound funding to build 16 state-of-the-art fire
stations in Cumbria, Lancashire and Merseyside.
"We need 21st Century fire stations with up-to-date
facilities that provide better working conditions for male and
female firefighters so they can fully represent the communities
they serve."
Notes to Editor
1. The community fire stations are to be constructed on a mixture
of new and existing sites, in some cases involving demolition and
phased working around operational units.
2. As well as delivering improved facilities these new stations
will boost vital initiatives for spreading fire safety messages in
preventing fires, fire-related deaths and injuries. Such as the
Communities and Local Government Fire Kills campaign which has
three core community fire safety themes: prevention, detection and
escape; the key and primary message is smoke alarm ownership and
maintenance. For more information: http://campaigns.direct.gov.uk/firekills/
3. The new stations are specifically designed for men and women
firefighters and will play a key role in helping FRS meet their
Equality and Diversity targets. The national Equality and
Diversity Strategy, launched last month, set FRS a target to
ensure that at least 15 per cent of new firefighting recruits are
women. A total of £2m of Government funding will be available to
those that choose a more challenging 18 per cent target for women.
4. To read the strategy: http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/fire/equalitydiversitystrategy
News Releases: http://www.communities.gov.uk/newsroom