Consultation on shared base at Woodbridge fire station begins

Consultation on a proposed shared base at Woodbridge Fire Station for Suffolk Fire & Rescue Service and Suffolk Constabulary begins today.

Local residents are being invited to a drop in session to view proposals to extend and improve the existing fire station in Theatre Street. Held at Woodbridge fire station, the event will run from 3pm to 7pm on Thursday 5 June. Flyers and letters are being sent to local residents, county, district and town councillors and local businesses.

Plans and information regarding the £600,000 project will be unveiled at the event and representatives from both services will be on hand to discuss the proposals.People can also provide feedback via email: fire.businesssupport@suffolk.gov.uk, quoting ‘Woodbridge Consultation’.

Tim Passmore, Suffolk’s Police Crime Commissioner said:

“Working together is absolutely key to meet the financial challenges that we face. I am very pleased with the existing shared stations across the county, it saves money and improves the joint working of these two key blue-light services. The public’s view on this initiative is crucially important and I look forward to meeting with the local communities to hear their views.”

Suffolk County Council’s Cllr Colin Spence, cabinet member for public protection said:

“Our partnership on property has grown and evolved over time. We already have four shared stations at Ixworth, Elmswell, Debenham and Framlingham and these are working well. Our plans to develop and improve Woodbridge fire station will help us become even more cost effective, we will be able to work much more closely together in Woodbridge and also improve vital emergency services property. We look forward to hearing people’s views on our proposals and encourage people to come along to the fire station on 5 June”.

The funding for the Woodbridge project will be shared between the two services and it is hoped that the government will provide grant funding for the building works

Residents coming to the event can expect to see plans for the shared station, which will replace the current police station in Grundisburgh Road. The design includes:

• An extension to the front of the fire station, which would provide new office accommodation for Suffolk Constabulary.
• Provision for five new car parking spaces for police use and cycle parking to the rear of the site.
• A new garage to the rear of the station to accommodate an emergency vehicle, and
• Much improved facilities for staff and the community and better access for the public.
• If approved, the work would commence in summer 2014 and will be completed for March 2015. There would be no disruption to fire and police services during the building works.