Have your say on new community fire station

GMFRS, Community Engagement Officer, Rachel Stanley

Researchers will be out and about in Rochdale over the next few weeks asking residents what type of facilities they would find useful to have in the new community fire station.

The exercise is part of Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service’s community engagement programme, designed to give the new fire station on Halifax Road a strong community focus.

It is being carried out by a group of 18-24 year olds working for Pathways CIC, a community interest company that is working in partnership with GMFRS on this project.

Councillor Fred Walker, Chairman of the Fire Authority, said: “The new fire station will have a community focus and we want to encourage local people to come into the station, access fire and safety messages, utilise the community space and feel that their ‘new neighbours’ belong in their community.

“By working with Pathways we can find out in a lot more detail what would work specifically in Rochdale and we can use this to inform our ideas in terms of the facilities we provide.”

Before beginning their research, the team were put through an intensive two-day training programme to ensure they were fully equipped to answer any questions local residents may have about the project.

Sumiyya Bibi, one of the Pathways researchers, said: "The two day training has been really interesting. I have learned a lot about the fire and rescue service therefore I’ve got more knowledge and understanding of how to approach the community and share my knowledge with them. It has been very informative and valuable.”

GMFRS, Community Engagement Officer, Rachel Stanley, said: “By working in partnership with Pathways, we are hoping to both generate lots of interest in the new community fire station, whilst as the same time giving an opportunity to a group of local people to get involved in shaping their own local community space.

“Over the coming weeks, the teams will be out and about in Rochdale talking to lots of people.

“I hope that people will take this opportunity to let us know what sort of services or facilities they would like and how we can better engage with them.”

The new community fire station at Rochdale will be situated on Halifax Road. The existing fire station at Maclure Road will close as soon as the new premises are ready for occupation and the site will be sold. 

Facilities at the community fire station will include office accommodation, training facilities, a drill tower, three vehicle appliance bay, car parking, storage areas and gardens.

The fire station will be specifically designed to be environmentally efficient and will include initiatives such as energy efficient heating systems, which will save thousands of pounds each year, rainwater recycling systems to flush toilets and solar collectors to provide hot water for showers and washing. A recycling policy will be in place throughout the construction phase to ensure best use of resources is made. Recycled and waste materials will be utilised wherever possible in the construction programme and waste materials from the site recycled.

The community fire station will include the room for use by the local community.

How do you feel the new community room at the fire station can best be used? Send your views to Rachel Stanley at stanleyr@manchesterfire.gov.uk