Station starts to take shape

At the end of May work started on a new fire station on Clough Lane, Rastrick.

Almost three months later, the foundations are now in place and the steel frame of the building is being erected, with the framework shell of the building to be completed next week.

The building contractors, Interserve, are on track for the new station to be operational in the Spring of next year, and the recent good weather has helped keep them to schedule.

Station Commander Andy Crowther, of Elland and Brighouse fire stations, said: “We are pleased with the progress made on the site and would like to thank the neighbours adjoining the site for their patience during the construction work.

“We also want to thank Rastrick Cricket Club, which has also allowed contractors use of their car park to keep traffic disruption to a minimum.”

The new fire station will open in Spring 2015, replacing the existing fire stations at Brighouse and Elland with state of the art facilities.

The siting of the new station at the junction of Clough Lane and Slade Lane was chosen for its good access to Elland, Brighouse, the M62 and surrounding areas.

Once operational, the station will be staffed by a crew of five firefighters 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

The development will provide for a new three-bay fire station. There will also be a single building situated on the site which will provide all of the necessary accommodation for the fire service personnel and associated vehicles.

The crew is also one of West Yorkshire’s specialist water rescue and flood response teams.

The decision to build Rastrick fire station was taken in 2011 as West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority agreed to close ten stations and build five new ones in a bid to save £4million a year.

Progress of work on the new fire station can be tracked by visiting the West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service website, www.wyfs.co.uk.