Horley residents could be served by new fire station in Salfords
A new fire station could be built in Salfords to help provide fire coverage for people in Horley when West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service moves the town’s fire crew to Horsham.
West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service has to save £2.5m from its budget this year and to help it achieve its target, it is moving its fire engine and crew in Horley to Horsham.
Surrey Fire and Rescue Service agreed to fill the gap and offer fire provision to Horley residents.
It has now launched an eight week public consultation into proposals to open a new fire station nine miles away in Salfords which would provide coverage to residents in Horley.
But until the new fire station is built, crews from Surrey would use Horley fire station as an interim station to cover the east side of the county.
Sean Ruth, Chief Fire Officer for West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, which owns Horley Fire Station, said it was too early to say what would happen to Horley’s fire station if the Salfords site was built.
He said: “We don’t know yet what will happen to Horley Fire Station as it is too early to say.
“We have got teams there, and that is where our Technical Rescue Unit is based.
“I think it is going to take some time for Surrey to get the station in Salfords as it is a lot of work and every resource will be needed at Horley fire station.”
The plan means Reigate would be left with one fire engine because its second engine would move to the new Salfords site.
The proposal would also see another fire station opened in Burgh Heath creating a chain of fire engines in East Surrey stretching from Epsom down to the outskirts of Horley.
Kay Hammond, Surrey County Council Cabinet Member for Community Services, said: “Surrey has an excellent fire service and these plans will make sure our firefighters can continue to keep the people who live and work in the east of the county safe in years to come.
“Opening stations in Salfords and Burgh Heath would create a chain of fire engines that would be able to provide cover faster. By investing in these stations, we would be investing in people’s safety.
“The fire service have drawn up these proposals and it is only right that we now give people the opportunity to give us their views. I look forward to hearing from them during the consultation.”
Residents can give their views by completing a questionnaire at www.surrey-fire.gov.uk/psp, emailing comments to psp@surreycc.gov.uk or calling 03456 009 009.
Alternatively, you can write to Surrey Fire and Rescue Service, Croydon Road, Reigate, Surrey RH2 0EJ.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Crawley
Saturday 25 May 2013
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 4 C to 16 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 6 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North west
