£30m is pledged for fire stations

Millions of pounds are to be spent by Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Authority rebuilding stations to make them fit for the 21st century.

Fire stations identified so far include Codsall and Kinver.

The fire authority will be spending £30 million on the rebuilds under a second private finance initiative.

The authority has submitted eight outline planning applications, but expects to deliver six projects.

Chief Fire Officer Peter Dartford said: "This is a really exciting time for us. Now that we have secured this second round of Government support to rebuild these stations it is fantastic news for the service and the communities we serve.

"We have not been the solely responsive service that we used to be for some time. We now sit at the heart of the community and our fire stations need to reflect that.

"These new stations will be built with the community in the forefront of our mind and fit for the 21st century."

Under the first PFI project seven fire stations are being demolished and rebuilt and three new ones will also be built in Stafford, Tamworth and Stoke-on-Trent.

Councillor Len Bloomer, fire authority chairman, said: "We are the only service in the country to be awarded one PFI bid and then be invited to bid for more.

"We will accelerate the improvements to our facilities that our first PFI project will provide and rebuild more of our stations to make them truly community focused."

Wombourne fire station's refurbishment was completed in May.