Firefighters to get new £5m complex

Firefighters to get new £5m complex

17 February 2016

DOWNPATRICK is in line for a new £5m fire station.

A site at the Flying Horse Road has been identified as the location for the new base which will replace the current facility in Church Street.

A business case for the new station has been completed and forwarded to the Department of Health for approval. However, the Fire and Rescue Service says it will await a decision on its budget for the new financial year before confirming when work on the multi-million pound project could start.

News that plans for a new station have been drawn up is part of a double pronged initiative by the Fire and Rescue Service to significantly enhance emergency cover in the greater Downpatrick area.

Several weeks ago, the organisation unveiled plans to deploy full time firefighters in the town for the first time. Fire cover has traditionally been provided by part-time personnel who hold down regular jobs and respond to emergency calls when required.

However, following a major risk assessment, the Fire and Rescue Service is proposing to deploy a number of full-time firefighters in the county town. The staff would work from Monday to Friday between 8am and 6pm alongside the Downpatrick base’s part-time crews.

The Fire and Rescue Service is consulting on how best to manage firefighter resources following a risk assessment which examined all of the Province’s 26 fire stations. 

The exercise identified that in 11 station areas the risk levels and resources “are not effectively matched” with Downpatrick one of four stations in need of full-time firefighters to provide enhanced prevention, protection and an emergency response. 

South Down MP Margaret Ritchie has welcomed confirmation that Downpatrick is in line for a new fire station and hopes the money to finance its construction will be made available. She is pressing Health Minister Simon Hamilton to ensure the scheme is a priority.

The MP met recently with senior Fire and Rescue Service personnel to make the case for the new base when it was confirmed the business case for the multi-million pound investment has been completed.

Miss Ritchie continued: “A site for the new base has been identified and designs have been completed, with the new station costing in the region of £5m to construct and fit out.

“The Fire and Rescue Service is proposing to ensure this new station will be full-time which will provide considerable assistance and relief for the existing part-time firefighters who undertake a tremendous service in safeguarding the local community.”

Miss Ritchie said she will continue to lobby the health minister to ensure funding is identified and provided for the new base as a matter of priority.

“Plans for this new station is good news for Downpatrick and the surrounding area and alongside the proposal to recruit full time firefighters will improve the already excellent service provided by the area’s part-time crews who do a marvellous job,” the MP added.

A spokeswoman for the Fire and Rescue Service confirmed the business case for the new station in Downpatrick has been completed and submitted to the Department of Health for consideration. 

“Once advised of our capital budget for the coming year, we will be prioritising our capital expenditure going forward and a new fire station for Downpatrick will be considered as part of this,” the spokeswoman added.