16 March 2009
Amersham Fire Station will be officially opened next week following major redevelopment.
It will be opened on Thursday 26 March by the Vice Lord-Lieutenant for Buckinghamshire, Mrs Jenny Hopkirk, in the presence of the High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire, Peter Thorogood.
Chief Fire Officer Damian Smith said: “The station has had a complete refurbishment and the facilities are very much improved.
"It has bought the station up to the required standard necessary for its status as a day-crewed station.”
The £0.5 million improvement scheme means that staff now have:
- Separate locker room, kit room and watch room
- A specific breathing apparatus servicing room
- Showers and improved toilet facilities including female and disabled areas
- A room for training or study sessions with up-to-date ICT facilities
- Designated drying and laundry facilities
- A kitchen/diner area
- Designated storage room
- Administration offices
- A gym area
During the period of redevelopment the station’s wholetime crews were based at Chesham, although night cover was still provided from Amersham. The Retained Duty System (part-time) crew were housed at GE Healthcare in White Lion Road, Amersham, enabling the contract time to be shortened by six weeks.
Tony Thompson, Station Manager at Amersham and Gerrards Cross Fire Stations, said: “We are very grateful to the senior management of GE Healthcare for allowing us to use their facilities during the redevelopment period.
"We are lucky to have very close links with their emergency planning department, and the company has put a lot of work into assisting us while the station was in the hands of the contractors.”
Amersham Fire Station will also be welcoming a new fire engine, which will be on show at the official opening. The nine-litre Scania 94D Rescue Pump is packed with the latest firefighting and rescue equipment.
Other invited guests at the opening will be members of the local community, Alan Goodrum, Chief Executive of Chiltern District Council, retired firefighters who were stationed at Amersham and senior managers from GE Healthcare.