Plans to build a new generation of community fire stations in Cumbria are seeking approval from Cabinet next week (12 June).
Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service has already received preliminary backing from the government to replace ageing stations in the north and west of the county through an £11 million Private Finance Initiative (PFI).
Following a countywide public consultation, Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service is now seeking approval to submit the outline business case for the new stations to central Government - the last step before appointing a preferred bidder to carry out the work, which is planned for 2009, with stations becoming operational from 2010 to 2011.
If approved, it will mean the flood-hit station at Rickergate in Carlisle is replaced with two new city sites, and new stations are built at Workington, Whitehaven, Penrith and Patterdale. A replacement Emergency Planning Unit will be included in the plans for one of the main stations.
In places like Carlisle, Workington and Whitehaven, the relocation of stations will mean faster response times in areas which a comprehensive risk-mapping exercise identified as needing a high level of fire cover.
All the new stations will include community rooms which will be available free of charge to local schools, clubs and neighbourhood groups who in return will receive a basic fire or road safety message.
To be successful, PFI funding bids must be over £20million and to meet that figure Cumbria has submitted a joint bid with Merseyside and Lancashire Fire and Rescue Authorities who are also planning to build new stations. All three fire and rescue authorities have produced robust financial cases, with estimates in place on the likely affordability gaps that have arisen in the time between the original PFI application and the actual roll-out of the new stations.
Cllr Elizabeth Barraclough, cabinet member responsible for public protection, said: "This scheme heralds a new generation of Cumbrian fire stations that enable the Fire and Rescue Service to make sure it has the right people, in the right place, at the right time. The community rooms will also provide a vital resource in fire prevention work, which is a crucial part of the modern fire and rescue service."
Cumbria's Chief Fire Officer Dominic Harrison, said: "The consultation exercise has provided us with some useful feedback and we are now ready to go the next stage of seeking Government approval. These new fire stations will put Cumbria on a firm footing for the future."
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