Consultation on shared base at Newmarket fire station begins

A consultation event on a proposed shared base at Newmarket Fire Station for Suffolk Constabulary and Suffolk Fire & Rescue Service was held in Newmarket on Wednesday 26th October at the King Edward VII Memorial Hall.

Local residents are being invited to a drop in session to view proposals to relocate the existing Police Facility in Vicarage Road Newmarket to share with the Fire Service at their Fire Station in Willie Snaith Road Newmarket.

Plans and information regarding the £575 000 project, which is supported with grant funding from the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG), will be unveiled at the event and representatives from both services will be on hand to discuss the proposals. People can also provide feedback via email: fire.businesssupport@suffolk.gov.uk or spcc@suffolk.pnn.police.uk quoting ‘Newmarket Consultation’.

Tim Passmore, Suffolk’s Police Crime Commissioner said:
“Working together is absolutely key to meet the financial challenges that we face. I am very pleased with the existing shared stations across the county; it saves money and improves the joint working of these two key blue-light services. The public’s view on this initiative is crucially important and I look forward to meeting with the local communities to hear their views.”

Suffolk County Council’s Cllr Matthew Hicks, cabinet member for public protection said:
“Our partnership on property has grown and evolved over time. We already have 6 shared stations with police and these are working well. Our plans to develop and improve Newmarket fire station will help us become even more cost effective, we will be able to work much more closely together in the town and improve vital emergency services property. We look forward to hearing people’s views on our proposals and encourage people to come along to the Memorial Hall on October 26th”.

The funding for the Newmarket project will be shared between the two services and it is hoped that the government will provide grant funding for the building works
Residents coming to the event can expect to see plans for the shared station, which will replace the current Police Station by extending the existing Fire Station premises. The design includes:
• A dedicated Police Office for the local Policing team with capacity for other officers and Policing functions to use as a drop in facility when required
• Interview Room for Police
• Police Locker and Kit bag area
• Improved shared Kitchen and recreation areas
• Shared Toilet and showers
• Improved access for the Station Community room.
• External Help point telephone facility
• Car Parking for Operational Police Vehicles