Alsager Lord Lieutenant Cheshire 180Lord Lieutenant of Cheshire David Briggs has opened a brand new on-call community station in Alsager - the first of four new fire stations to be built as part of Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service’s Emergency Response Programme to improve fire cover and response times across the county.

The Chair of the Fire Authority, Councillor John Joyce, asked the Lord Lieutenant of Cheshire to officially open the new station on Brookhouse Road in Alsager last Friday [7 August] as the first step of an "ambitious programme".

Cllr Joyce said: “I am delighted that our ambitious programme of new fire stations is taking fruition and I am confident that the overall programme will help us to continue the major reductions in fire and injuries we have achieved in recent years.”

The programme was approved following a comprehensive consultation with the public, staff and partners, with the Fire Authority committed to keeping the same number of fire engines, but make savings by changing crewing arrangements on some stations.

Chief Fire Officer Paul Hancock added: “It is exciting to see the first part of our ambitious programme become reality and this new fire station, along with the three due to be built in other parts of the county, will ensure we can continue to protect communities across Cheshire.”

“The investment the Authority has made in the new fire stations, together with changing how some fire engines are staffed, means we will be able to make more efficient and effective use of our emergency response services in the future.”

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The Alsager site has cost just over £1 million to complete and now has 10 new on-call firefighters who are being trained and will be based there. The firefighters will do a demonstration as part of the official opening of the station.

Speaking at the opening, the Lord Lieutenant said: “It is a great honour to open this brand new fire station and I am sure the residents of Alsager and surrounding areas feel reassured in the knowledge they now have this fantastic purpose built fire station in the area. The community will benefit from the building being available to be used by community groups and I am sure it will become a real hub for the local residents.”

The next stage of the programme is a £12 million project, which will create new fire stations at Penketh, Powey Lane near the M56 and near the motorway interchange at Lymm.

The largest of the three fire stations, which will be based at Lymm, will also include the county’s first public safety centre where school children, carers, new parents and other visitors will be able to learn how to stay safe, well and independent by experiencing realistic scenarios in four innovative learning zones.

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