Start date for £3m Cradley Heath 999 station building
Work to build the new £3 million fire station serving Cradley Heath and Halesowen could get under way by March, fire chiefs revealed today.
The construction project at the old municipal buildings in Cradley Heath would be complete within a year.
West Midlands Fire Authority chairman and Sandwell Councillor John Edwards today said he hopes the station will become operational from March 2014. It will have a glass-fronted reception and be based next to Haden Hill Leisure Centre.
Councillor Edwards said: "Workers should be on site in March to start work on the new station and we are looking at it being operational by March 2014.
"We want to complete the project as soon as possible because the Cradley Heath station is so old and we really need something new.
"We want the station in its new position to serve the community of Halesowen and Cradley Heath in an effective way."
The station will be home to one engine but have three bays for other fire service vehicles. In addition to the fire fighters' facilities, it will have rooms for community use.
The engines will enter and exit the station off Halesowen Road, and traffic signals will be used to make it safe. Plans also include the provision of new car parking, which would, in part, be used by Haden Hill leisure Centre.
Dudley Council approved plans for a new housing estate to be built on the site of Halesowen Fire Station, in Hagley Road.
The station shut last year despite a campaign to save it. The number of homes planned for the site was reduced from 22 to 14 following concerns.
But Halesowen Councillor Ken Turner believes this limits the revenue available from the sale of the land by West Midlands Fire Service.
Cash used from the sale will be used to help pay the £3 million costs of the new station.
