A MULTI-MILLION pound facelift of Leamington Fire Station is set to get underway in December.
The £2.8million revamp of the town centre station will make life more comfortable for firefighters working longer shifts at the 50 year-old Warwick Street station, which also serves as the brigade’s regional headquarters
Warwickshire Fire & Rescue Service has commissioned the major refurbishment as part of plans to bring in a new shift pattern.
The new operating model will see two distinct crews working alongside each other. The new Day Crew Plus will work 24-hour shifts – divided into 12 active duty and 12 hours on stand-by, staying at the fire station throughout. A second crew will work a more standard 12-hour pattern, returning home at the end of the shift.
The renovations and changes – including a new gym facility and expanding the existing kitchen to include a modern dining area – will make the living facilities more family-friendly and provide firefighters with a comfortable environment for extended stays at the station.
And the new seven-day crew has been allotted a separate annexe – complete with its own front door – to allow visitors to access the building without walking through the main station.
Plans will also see the installation of a new lift and reinstatement of the classic fireman’s pole, which had previously been removed.
The work, being carried out by Morgan Sindall, is expected to be completed by next summer.
Sean Bowles, Morgan Sindall’s managing director in the Midlands, said: “The men and women who serve in the fire service can find themselves in harm’s way on a daily basis. They deserve a modern, fit-for-purpose environment in which to relax between incidents.
“Carrying out construction work on a live fire station requires special considerations and expertise. Morgan Sindall has a track record of successfully delivering blue light projects such as this and we’re confident the new facilities will be well received.”
27th Jul, 2024
