MIDDLEWICH fire station is set to be upgraded over the next 12 months as part of a county-wide £8.5 million modernisation scheme.

Cheshire Fire Authority agreed to embark on the programme for 21 of the county’s ageing fire stations last September – and it has now revealed a timetable for when each of the stations will be transformed.

A spokesman for Cheshire Fire Authority said: “The modernisation programme will deliver the plan to invest in the refurbishment of 21 of our fire stations which have become outdated. This work will be delivered over a period of five years.

“Firefighters and staff have been consulted throughout this process and their opinions and views have helped shape the final plans for these refurbishments.”

Work will begin at the first two stations to be upgraded – Bollington and Tarporley – on April 28,before Middlewich, Sandbach, Runcorn and Birchwood stations are due to be upgraded later in 2019-20.

Fiona Bruce, Conservative MP for Congleton, is delighted that Middlewich will be among the first stations to be upgraded.

Northwich Guardian:

And she hopes it can live up to the standard set at Alsager fire station, which opened in 2016.

She said: “I’m full of respect for Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service – I think they have done an excellent job over many years not just with tackling fire, but with helping to prevent fires.

“I am delighted that they are investing in these upgrades and I know they will be done to a high level like the Alsager station, which has been very well developed.

“Having met some of the officers that have served there they very much enjoy working from the new station, and it is a great community centre too for hosting events.

“I have always been impressed by the way the fire service manages its finances to allow it to make these investments.

“It has been very well led, not just by the fire authority, but by the chief fire officers – Mark Cashin [who took over last year] and his predecessor Paul Hancock.”

Fire authority members were told last September that of the 21 stations to be renovated, 11 were built in the 1960s, six are from the 1970s, one was built in the 1980s and three are from the 1990s.

Winsford fire station is expected to be upgraded in 2022-23 as part of the programme.

READ > Cheshire fire stations set for renovation in £8.5m scheme