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Work starts remodelling central fire station
Work has began redeveloping Temple Back Fire Station to meet new budget requirements.
Avon Fire & Rescue are reducing the overall footrpint of the 1973 station while selling off land for redevelopment as part of a drive to save £4.5 million every year.
The new station, due to be completed by summer 2016, will not see a reduction in crew.
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The redevelopment follows a 2013 review which found the station cost £9 million a year to maintain.
Plans were drawn up alongside closures and mergers of other stations in the city.
The works have already seen the extension of Kingswood Fire Station which was merged with the nearby Speedwell Fire Station earlier this year.
A new fire station is also being built at Hicks Gate, to replace Keynsham and Brislington stations, which is due to open in early 2016.
Part of the existing fire station at Temple Back has already been demolished to make way for the new building which will occupy one side of the almost two acre site.
The station will be home to two fire engines and a turntable ladder, as well as the service’s rope rescue team. Eleven firefighters will crew the station around the clock – the same level of cover as the existing station.
Councillor Peter Abraham, chairman of Avon Fire Authority, said: “We are absolutely committed to maintaining the same level of fire cover in the centre of Bristol, however this must be done in the context of significantly reduced budgets.
“By designing a new station from scratch we have been able to incorporate all our current and likely future needs in a smaller building that will be more efficient to run. This will also allow us to achieve a financial return by releasing the rest of the site for commercial redevelopment.”
Temple Back Fire Station was built in 1973 and is also home to Avon Fire 7 Rescue’s current headquarters, which will be moving to Keynsham.