FUNDING SETBACK FOR FIRE STATION

Oct 3 2007 Stirling Observer

FIRE bosses are looking to press ahead with a new station to the east of Stirling despite being turned down for funding from Holyrood.

Up to £3 million is needed for the proposed one-pump fire station which is being lined up to service the proposed Durieshill super village as well as the increasing populations in Cowie and Plean.

At a Central Scotland Fire and Rescue Service Board meeting last week, Chief Fire Officer Steven Torrie said the facility was still on the cards, although a timescale on it being built and operational was not yet possible as negotiations were still under way on buying land for the station.

Funding for the land purchase has already been agreed.

He said that while the station is needed due to findings in a risk assessment, it was not urgent.

Councillor David Alexander asked if resources from their annual government handout could be diverted to fund a loan to pay for the proposed station, but it emerged this was not possible.

The board was told that a funding announcement for the fire service to cover 2008-9 was expected soon and this should help them establish how to fund the development.

Moves for the station were first publicly discussed in January last year amid talks on making the Durieshill super village a reality.

But concerns were expressed at that time that the station would see resources diverted away from Stirling fire station in Raploch, with one pump being provided at each station, stripping the existing station of one of its appliances.

It is believed that fire bosses are eyeing a station similar in style to that operating in Callander which opened three years ago.