Plans have been put forward to rebuild Whitefield fire station with residents being urged to have their say.
As part of a £38m redevelopment programme, proposals are being submitted to build two new stations in Whitefield and Blackley on the same sites currently occupied by Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS).
The new stations will offer improved facilities for firefighters while still supporting crews to carry out their work serving communities.
GMFRS Chief Fire Officer Dave Russel said: “We recognise that the pressures and the challenges we face across GMFRS 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.”
The station will feature new sustainable heating and lighting systems aiding to help Greater Manchester decarbonise public buildings by 2038 under the plans.
The new stations would also host dual-purpose community rooms, operational training rooms and the number of fire engines and response times to emergencies will stay the same.
Deputy mayor of Greater Manchester, Kate Green, added: “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.
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“Bev Hughes (former deputy mayor) 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.”
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For Bury residents, a drop-in session will be held to discuss the plans on Wednesday, March 8, at Whitefield fire station on Bury New Road, from 4.30pm to 7pm.
A drop-in session is also being held to discuss the Blackley fire station plans on Monday March 6, at the site from 4.30pm to 7pm.
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Visit www.gmconsult.org to find out more and have your say or let us know what you think by commenting below.
If you have a story tweet @BuryTimes or @Heywoodharriet_ or email Harriet.Heywood@newsquest.co.uk.
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