Work on Bromsgrove's new emergency hub gets underway (From Bromsgrove Advertiser)
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Work on Bromsgrove's new emergency hub gets underway
12:00pm Wednesday 31st October 2012 in News
By Sam Greenway
Ground-breaking: An artist’s impression of the new combined emergency services station being built in Bromsgrove. Ref:s
CONSTRUCTION work on Bromsgrove’s new combined emergency services station - described by police as the first of its kind in the country - is underway.
In September, the Advertiser reported on the preparatory, demolition work that was being carried out on the derelict site off School Drive, near the Artrix, where the new police and fire station will be based.
On Monday, (October 29), building work on the multi-million pound project began. It is expected to take a year to complete.
If everything goes to schedule the emergency hub, which is replacing Bromsgrove Police Station, in The Crescent, and the Windsor Street-based Fire Station, would be ready to open in January 2014.
The ground-breaking station would be the first delivered under the Worcestershire Capital Asset Pathfinder initiative, which police say will lead to better local services and increased value for money through a shared facility between public services.
The scheme is part of Bromsgrove's wider regeneration project, which could also see the former Parkside building become a multi-purpose community facility including a customer service centre, registry office, and a library.
The construction work on the station is being undertaken by contractors Thomas Vale, under the West Midlands Constructors Framework - a £180m construction framework to deliver public sector works across the region.
Jim Stobie, from West Mercia Police, said: "This project is the result of endeavours by a number of public sector organisations and will hopefully act as a catalyst for the regeneration of central Bromsgrove.
"Nationally it will be the first of its kind and may eventually be replicated across the country.
"The new site will replace two old police and fire stations that are expensive to run.
“By sharing facilities, the cost of the new building will reduce by 20 per cent."
Ian Edwards, from Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service, said: "We are pleased this innovative shared project is now underway.
“This new facility will be of great benefit to the local community and also to our staff serving the community."
