Member Article

Hexham fire station plans given the green light

Plans for a brand new community fire station in Hexham have been given the green light.

Planning approval was given this week to relocate Hexham Community Fire Station to a site at Hexham General Hospital from the current facility on the Tyne Mills Industrial Estate.

The scheme has involved close partnership working between Northumberland County Council and Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust which manages Hexham General Hospital.

The project involves altering and extending the existing buildings to the rear of the hospital site and will have no impact on day-to-day running of the services.

Chief fire officer at Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service, Alex Bennett, said: “This is a major step forward for the new community fire station which will ultimately bring a number of benefits for both the service and the local community.

“The public and other stakeholders have been widely consulted and we’ve had some very positive feedback and been able to address any concerns people have had. We look forward to progressing the scheme as soon as possible.”

Deputy leader of Northumberland County Council with responsibility for the fire and rescue service, Councillor Dave Ledger, said: “We’re delighted this ambitious project has been granted planning permission.

“This scheme will not only allow us to work more closely with another key public service provider, but will improve the facilities we can offer for community use and offer greater value for money for the Northumberland taxpayer.”

Director of estates and facilities at Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Steven Bannister, said: “We are pleased that this project which has been developed due to strong partnership working between ourselves and the council has been given the go-ahead.

“For more than a decade, we have worked closely together, not only to deliver integrated health and social care for people in Northumberland, but also on initiatives which benefit our local communities, with this new fire station being a prime example.

“We look forward to work starting on the new fire station for Hexham and further collaboration in the future.”

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