10 fire stations to be rebuilt in £50m plan

Another 10 state-of-the-art fire stations will be built across Staffordshire after the treasury rubber-stamped the next phase of a £100m redevelopment.

Fire stations in Codsall, Kinver, Rugeley, Lichfield, Chase Terrace, Stone and Penkridge will all be rebuilt in a £50m scheme. A rebuild is already underway at a number of fire stations.

Cannock fire station is currently being rebuilt while a new station is being built at Rising Brook, Stafford.

Peter Dartford, Chief Fire Officer at Staffordshire Fire and Rescue, said: "This is fantastic news for our organisation and, of course, the communities we serve.

"To secure funding for a second multi-million pound rebuilding project is simply unprecedented.

"Our vision to have community fire stations is becoming a reality."

Chairman of the Fire and Rescue Authority, councillor Len Bloomer, said: "This will make a huge difference to developing the service's capacity to deliver improved safety, and contribute to the wellbeing of our communities into the 21st century and beyond."

Companies and consortia interested in the design, build and maintenance of the ten community fire stations in the scheme are now being invited to submit responses for the first stage of the procurement process.

A preferred bidder is then expected to be selected in Autumn 2011, with construction starting on the new fire stations in 2012.

The new fire station at Cannock is expected to be opened in January when the current base will be demolished.

Firefighters currently operate out of the station during the working day and respond from their homes on call overnight night.

Once the new community fire station has opened the crew levels will be increased and firefighters will be based there around the clock.

The other fire stations being redeveloped are in Ashley, Leek and Burton.