EVESHAM’S brand new fire station is due to open on Monday (December 12) and the Observer was given a tour of the ‘far superior’ building which will meet the demands of a modern fire service.
Work began on the Abbey Road station, based next door to Evesham Leisure Centre, in February this year after the town’s 50-year-old station on Merstow Green was deemed no longer fit for purpose.
The brand new facility boasts a gym, kitchen, study room, locker rooms, muster bay, a pole drop which has been recently re-introduced and a state-of-the-art strategic training facility where firefighters can learn how to use breathing apparatus equipment.
The new appliance room will house two fire engines, a water rescue vehicle and water carrier- with enough space left for other vehicles if they need to be stored at the station.
Fire crews will officially transfer over to the new station on Monday (December 12). The event will begin at 8.45am at the Merstow Green station, with the parade starting at 9.05am, which will see a convoy of fire engines parade to the new station. The parade is due to reach the new station at 9.25am, with a transfer of keys and welcome speech by CFO Nathan Travis at 9:40am.
Station commander Stephen Fox said: “The station facilities at the old place are very dated and in terms of meeting the demands of a modern fire service this place is far superior.
“Not only from the point of view of the day-to-day stuff which functions the fire station from the kitchen, mess and toilets, but just the heating and the efficiency of the building and the facilities we have in terms of training- its just far, far better.
“The old station was built in 1969 so it’s past its sell by date.”
