18 June 2009

High Wycombe Fire Station is to have a £60,000 refurbishment in July and August.

The station’s five appliance bay doors will be replaced, new windows will be fitted and the exterior of the building in St Mary Street will be power-cleaned.

Area Manager Roy Harold from Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service said: “For a number of years, Buckinghamshire & Milton Keynes Fire Authority has been looking at alternative sites as Wycombe District Council has proposed the relocation of the fire station in its plans for the redevelopment of the town centre.

“We have delayed our refurbishment plans for the station several times as the immediate future of the current site was unclear. Obviously we wanted to avoid investing in the site if there was a possibility that we would be vacating it in a year or so.

“For the time being, however, we have exhausted the possible new sites we have been discussing with Wycombe District Council. Following our latest meeting with the council, we are planning a modest redevelopment of the current site to meet the needs of both organisations in the short term.

“With the current economic climate in mind, we intend to get the maximum life out of as many of our fixtures and fittings as possible. For example, the most expensive element of our refurbishment – the five new appliance bay doors – will be coming with us to a new site at some point in the future!”

The work on the doors will start on 13 July and is expected to be completed by the end of the month. The rest of the refurbishment, which will help improve the station’s energy efficiency, will be completed by the end of August.

In the past year, Wycombe District Council and Buckinghamshire & Milton Keynes Fire Authority have discussed a possible new site in Desborough Road, High Wycombe.

After an extensive investigation, Buckinghamshire & Milton Keynes Fire Authority concluded that relocating to Desborough Road would have a detrimental effect on attendance times at emergency incidents in the town and on the M40. 

Roy added: “Our work with Wycombe District Council has always been positive and collaborative. Both organisations are committed to fulfilling their responsibilities to the public.”