Welcome to the fire station of the future (VIDEO)
MEMBERS of the public will be able to watch firefighters at work in a new breed of fire station.
The new community fire station at Kidsgrove will be one of 10 in operation across the county by summer 2011, as part of a £46 million private finance initiative.
Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service has now lodged a planning application for the station, which explains how the new building will be far more accessible to the public than existing ones.
The station will change from being part-time to retained, meaning it will only be manned when incidents occur.
But a meeting room in the building will be accessible to the public throughout the day and early evening, to increase "community ownership" of the station.
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While staff and public areas will be kept separate, the building will have an open design allowing visitors to see into different parts of the station.
The application states: "It was a key aspect of the brief that the building should be open and provide the opportunity for the community to both see into the fire station and potentially catch glimpses of the actual working aspects of the facility."
The new station will have two fire engine bays, changing rooms and showers for firefighters, as well as a fitness suite and offices.
While the existing building also has these features, the fire service considers them to be outdated and need of upgrading.
Chris Bromley, area commander for Newcastle, said: "The station is one of seven in the county being rebuilt; three new stations are also being built. If approved, Kidsgrove will move a step closer to having a new, state-of-the-art community fire station."
Fire chiefs have claimed that the presence of the new establishment at Sandyford will mean coverage of Kidsgrove will improve, despite the town's fire station being downgraded to a retained facility.
While the current station has up to 30 retained and 14 full-time firefighters, the new station will only have 30 retained staff.
Work will not start at Kidsgrove until the station at Sandyford is fully operational, in July 2010.
The Kidsgrove station is set to be completed by June 2011.
4 Comments
by Stan, Burslem
Friday, December 04 2009, 4:49PM
“Jeff, This isn't about educational visits, it's about having public galleries so that people ( who realy need to get a life) can come and gawp at firefighters going about their business. As a station commander I wonder if you would have liked to have half a dozen people lined up outside your office window peering in watching your every move, like some sort of zoo exhibit? I rather think not! A fire/police station is a place of work not "goldfish bowl" for the public to spend an afternoon out gawping. Whats next? Community council offices, community city works, viewing galleries in schools so we can see how a teacher goes about their job. The list is endless. A total joke and a total waste of tax payers money.”
by jeffb, buxton, derbyshire.
Wednesday, December 02 2009, 9:37PM
“In reply to nigel harper,As a retired station commander in the fire service with 26 years service,I have found that the best way to prevent false calls is to let the kids see what the result of a malicious can do, by visiting a fire station you can explain the implications of false calls and how it effects the response to a real call. It gives you chance to explain how possible future malicious calls may affect society, and them and their familys”
by Nigel Harper, Kidsgrove
Wednesday, January 14 2009, 7:59PM
“Surely being able to walk in and watch whats happening will encourage kids to make false calls so they can watch the brigade in action? Or even worse, they could light fires!”
by Andy, Sandbach
Friday, January 09 2009, 10:14AM
“What on earth is a "community fire station"?!?
Why is it that under this government, spin, smoke and mirrors and bull has increased through the roof?
Does this government honestly think that by placing "community" in front of every title (Community Police, Community School, Community Hospital), that everything will be ok??
Get real!!”