Plans to build a new generation of community fire stations in Cumbria have passed an important milestone.
The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) have told Cumbria County Council that it has full Ministerial approval to proceed with the scheme and can now start the detailed tendering process to decide which firm will build the five new stations at Carlisle (2), Patterdale, Penrith and Workington.
The news, which was announced today at a full meeting of the council, comes after the DCLG agreed that all the procedures were in place to meet the requirements of the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) process which will be used to fund the construction of the stations.
To be successful, PFI funding bids must be over £20million and to meet that figure Cumbria has joined forces with Merseyside and Lancashire Fire and Rescue Services who are also building new stations. The five Cumbrian stations will cost more than £11 million to build.
All the new Cumbrian stations will include better training facilities and community rooms where schools and local groups will be able to get important fire prevention messages.
Planning permission for each site has already been secured and members of the public gave their views on the plans during a public consultation which took place in 2007.
Building work is expected to begin in 2010, with stations becoming operational from 2011 to 2013.
The new station at Patterdale will be built on the site of the village’s existing station. Carlisle’s flood-hit station at Rickergate will be replaced with two new city centre sites at Durranhill and Newtown.
Workington’s new fire station will be built at Moorclose where comprehensive risk-mapping has identified a need for higher levels of fire cover.
The Penrith station will be built at Kemplay Bank roundabout and will also provide a new home for the county council's emergency planners who are responsible for helping to coordinate multi-agency responses to major incidents in Cumbria.
Councillor Gary Strong, cabinet member for Community Development and Safety, said: "This is a significant development which paves the way for a new generation of Cumbrian fire stations.
"Each station will provide improved facilities for firefighters and better access for the communities they serve."
Cumbria’s Chief Fire Officer Dominic Harrison, said: ""These new stations will help the Fire and Rescue Service to make sure it has the right people, in the right place, at the right time to save more lives."
"The design of the new stations will also make them more accessible to local communities which will help us to spread the message to more people about how to stay safe."
ENDS
Please note: Cumbria County Council's media team telephone numbers have now changed.
Media enquiries to Mark Graham, Media Officer on 01228 226337.