Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service (BFRS) has submitted a planning application to South Bucks District Council for an integrated Search and Rescue (SAR) Centre and relocation of Beaconsfield Fire Station. The site extends to 2.7 hectares and comprises land to the south of the A40, east of Pyebush Lane, Beaconsfield. Part of the site comprises the former carriageway of the A40, prior to its realignment.
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What is being proposed?
The proposed scheme is part of the Government's New Dimension Programme, which seeks to enhance the capability of the fire and rescue service to respond to a range of major emergencies.
The Programme was established following the September 11th 2001 attack on the World Trade Centre in New York. This marked a turning point in the challenge posed by international terrorism and prompted the UK Government to review and improve the country's ability to respond to the increased risks.
This work involved a reappraisal of the response capacity and capability of the UK's emergency services. The Civil Resilience Directorate was formed in 2003 to co-ordinate the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's (ODPM) resilience programmes. 'Resilience' is a term applied to the Government's arrangements for enhancing security.
Why is it needed?
The SAR Centre would provide specialist training and operational facilities to enable the fire and rescue service to respond to a wide range of major emergencies. For example, responding to widespread flooding, storm damage and other natural disasters; building collapse; industrial accidents; terrorist incidents; energy and power failures.
Recent events which have impacted upon local communities, such as the London bombings and the tunnel collapse at Gerrards Cross illustrate the kind of major emergencies that the fire and rescue service has to deal with.
New statutory duties have been imposed upon the fire and rescue services which have led to revised assessment on risk. This has revealed that the fire and rescue service would be able to provide an improved attendance to motorway accidents if the fire station is located out of the town and closer to the M40.
The SAR Centre would be part of a strategic network of similar facilities throughout the country. SAR Beaconsfield is strategically well located – and would ensure an effective response was available for known risk areas in London and the Home Counties.
What would be included on the site?
In addition to a new community fire station the Beaconsfield site would contain specialist rescue equipment to respond to a wide range of emergency situations. It is essential that the fire and rescue service is well trained to fulfil this new role. In consequence, training facilities are incorporated onto the site.
What would not be included on the site?
The Beaconsfield site would be an emergency response centre, equipped with specialist equipment. It will not house or be used for storage of any harmful or dangerous chemicals, hazardous waste, radiological or biological matter.
What are the Planning Policy considerations of this proposal?
The M40 is a very important factor in the location of this new facility, enabling rapid access to other parts of the South East and improved attendance times to motorway accidents. It is considered unrealistic to site the SAR Centre and Fire Station within an existing built up area and despite an extensive search no suitable site outside the Green Belt has been identified. The need to secure rapid access to the M40 would involve development on land within the Green Belt. It is considered that this proposal is necessary in the overall public interest – and the need for it amounts to ‘very special circumstance’ to justify the development in the Green Belt. The site has been carefully selected after a wide search as the location which best meets the operational needs of the service, while ensuring that impact on the openness of the Green Belt is minimised. The development will also give rise to other environmental policy considerations.
What is the Planning Process?
A planning application will be submitted to South Bucks District Council. The District Council will have to consider whether there are ‘very special circumstances’ to justify the development in the Green Belt. The Council will undertake consultations on the planning application prior to the application being reported to a Committee for consideration. The application will give rise to other planning policy considerations, for example highways, which will also be considered by the planning authority.
Questions & Answers
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Q. Why has Beaconsfield been chosen for this SAR Centre?
A. Beaconsfield has been identified as a key strategic location in the SAR network and would be one of the most important locations outside the London Metropolitan area.
Q. Why can’t the new SAR Centre be included within the current fire station?
A. There isn’t room for the extra accommodation, training, storage and garaging required for the SAR facility at the existing fire station.
Q. What would happen to the current fire station site?
A. If the planning application is approved, the Skelton Close site would be developed to provide much-needed key worker housing for people such as fire service personnel, nursing staff, police officers and teachers
Q. Why does it have to be sited close to the motorway?
A. The M40 is the main access point for travelling to many of the Fire Service’s emergency calls. As the SAR Centre is part of a national network, rapid motorway access is crucial. Reduced response times to emergencies would be a substantial benefit |
Q. Why has a site on Green Belt land been selected?
A. No alternative site within the urban area has been identified. All land within the vicinity of Junction 2 of the M40 is Green Belt.
Q. If approval is given for this project surely others will follow, setting a precedent for development in the Green Belt?
A. Not at all. This proposal is unique – and responds to a national need to enhance Resilience to a wide range of potential emergencies.