West Yorkshire Fire And Rescue Authority Approves Plans To Build New Fire Station At Birkenshaw Headquarters

West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority (WYFRS) have given the go ahead to relocate the fire station in Hightown Road, in Cleckheaton, to WYFRS Headquarters in Birkenshaw, United Kingdom.

The decision was made at the Full Authority meeting held on September 18, 2020 and will see an investment of £1.3 million to build a new facility, which will be closer to the more high risk areas, where fires and other emergencies tend to occur often.

New Fire station

The new station will also provide quick access to nearby major road networks for emergencies that occur as a result of road traffic collisions on the M62, M606, A58 and A62 road networks. The relocation will also bring together the specialist Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) crews with the USAR equipment and training facility that is already hosted at Headquarters.

The Fire Service found innovative ways to connect with online audiences

Over 200 people responded to the recent consultation. The Fire Service found innovative ways to connect with online audiences, during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and held three Facebook live question and answer sessions on the proposals, which reached an audience of 20,000.

Q/A sessions on proposals

Nick Smith, Assistant Chief Fire Officer at the West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority (WYFRS), said “We are very grateful to everyone who took the time to give their views on the proposals. We are pleased that the Fire Authority has given its approval today for us to go ahead with our plans to build a state-of-the-art fire station, which will see improved attendance times in areas we have assessed to be ‘high’ and ‘very high risk,’ meaning it would be closer to those most vulnerable to having a fire.”

Nick Smith adds, “Meanwhile, its relocation would still ensure that all areas currently served would still receive a fire engine within our agreed response times. The station will offer firefighters the very best of equipment in a modern environment, which is also close to the training facilities we already host at the Headquarters for our Urban Search and Rescue capability.”

Rebuild of the Cleckheaton fire station

The fire station in Cleckheaton is one of the oldest fire stations in West Yorkshire, constructed in the 1950s, and due to its condition requires a rebuild, in order to avoid expensive repair and ongoing maintenance costs.

The relocation will have no impact on staffing numbers or the number of fire engine

Since it was originally built, the communities served by the station have evolved and the risks presented by different types of emergencies have also changed. The relocation will have no impact on staffing numbers or the number of fire engines. Currently, 40 staff is employed at the whole-time station on a rolling shift pattern, utilizing a fire engine and Technical Rescue Unit.

New fire station at WYFRS headquarters

Rebuilding the existing fire station on its current site would cost approximately £2.9 million, whereas a rebuild at Fire Service Headquarters would cost approximately £1.3 million. Building at Fire Service Headquarters, combined with the sale of the Cleckheaton site, would save £1.975 million over the cost of rebuilding on the current site.

Chairperson of West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority, Councilor Darren O’Donovan, said “West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service has seen a much reduced central Government grant and changing risk profile in our neighborhoods, over the past few years. Due to these changes, a huge reconfiguration and modernization program was started back in 2010 that has seen changes to fire stations through West Yorkshire.”

Future proofing fire safety services

Councilor Darren O’Donovan adds, “The relocation of the Cleckheaton station to our HQ site at Birkenshaw allows us to future proof our service for decades ahead. The relocation will meet the changing risk in the area, provide value for money to the taxpayer and gives our firefighters the most up-to-date facilities.”

He further said, “Decisions like this are not taken lightly. We’ve considered the consultation feedback from the public and from staff and spent time deliberating over the decision. I am confident that this relocation puts West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service in the best position to meet the challenges in the future.”