Two new fire stations are to be built as part of a £38m investment by Greater Manchester's brigade. They would be constructed on the existing sites of the Whitefield and Blackley stations.
The proposals will soon be submitted to local councils. The new stations will offer improved facilities for firefighters, and feature new sustainable heating and lighting systems, helping Greater Manchester to decarbonise public buildings. They will also host dual-purpose community rooms and operational training rooms.
The stations will offer the same level of service to the local community as the current fire stations, with the amount of fire engines and response times to emergencies staying the same.
READ MORE: Woman who died after running into street on fire 'poured white spirit over her own head'
The plans are part of Greater Manchester’s £38m Estates Strategy, which sets out a vision for upgrading and redeveloping a number of stations across the city-region to ensure they remain fit for purpose and enable GMFRS to provide the best possible service to residents. The plans will be subject of local consultation.
Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester, Kate Green, said:“We want to hear from people about their priorities for our fire service and the facilities at their disposal. These plans are part of a wide-ranging programme of investment across Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, enabling us to bring forward new, modern fire stations that are fit for the future.
“Bev Hughes took the crucial step of initiating this investment in our local fire service, and as Deputy Mayor I’m pleased to carry on that work and ensure that firefighters have the best possible facilities and resources to get on with doing their jobs and protecting our communities.”
Chief Fire Officer, Dave Russel, said: “We recognise that the pressures and the challenges we face across Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service are changing. We also recognise the responsibility we have, as a service embedded at the heart of our communities, to make sure that residents can have their say on our vision for adapting to these changes.
“These plans will see decades-old buildings replaced with state-of-the-art fire stations, enabling us to maintain the cover our crews provide while increasing the energy efficiency of our estate and cutting carbon emissions. This is about making sure that GMFRS is on the front foot and equipped with the tools and the facilities to carry on serving Greater Manchester.”
Investment is set to be carried out over four phases, with the redevelopment of Blackley, Whitefield happening first, with plans to rebuild Stockport Fire Station on King Street being released later this year. Fire stations in Heywood and Whitehill will be redeveloped later in the programme.
For more information, visit the GMFRS website: Station new builds - Greater Manchester Fire Rescue Service. Leaflets are being delivered to local residents with more information about the plans, and two drop-in sessions for residents and stakeholders will be held next month:
- Monday 6 March at Blackley fire station, Rochdale Rd, Manchester M9 7EQ, from 4:30 p.m. – 7 p.m.
- Wednesday 8 March at Whitefield fire station, Bury New Rd, Whitefield, Manchester M45 7SY, from 4:30 p.m. – 7 p.m.
People can have their say on the plans by taking part in the consultation at www.gmconsult.org.
READ NEXT:
