A NEW fire station has been officially opened in Gaydon.
The purpose-built peak demand station at the Aston Martin headquarters on Banbury Road will have firefighters on site from 7am to 7pm.
Fire chiefs say the station’s close proximity to the M40 will improve fire cover and response times in the south of the county while also allowing crews to carry out more risk reduction work, which will help keep communities safer.
The station has been built by Keirs with support from Warwickshire County Council, Aston Martin and Jaguar Land Rover following a £760,000 funding grant from the Department of Communities of Local Government Transformation.
The site has been up and running for almost two months but dignitaries including Warwickshire County Council’s Chairman, Coun Bob Hicks, Aston Martin Vice President, Keith Stanton, and Warwickshire’s Chief Fire Officer, Andy Hickmott gathered to officially open the building this week.
Talking about the new station, Chief Fire Officer, Andy Hickmott said: “I was delighted to be part of the opening ceremony at the new fire station here in Gaydon.
“I am confident as Chief Fire Officer, that this station will provide a modern and efficient base from which to deliver a highly effective emergency response as well as community safety activities to the local community and Warwickshire as a whole.”
Portfolio Holder for Community Safety, Councillor John Horner said: “The new station looks fantastic. It has absolutely been built to enhance the service’s response to the south of the county and that can only be good news for the residents of Warwickshire.
“I hope the new station serves our community for many more years to come.”
And Keith Stanton, Aston Martin Vice President, added: “We are delighted we have been able to support the community with the provision of space for the fire service.
“We are now safe in the knowledge that we have a fully functioning fire station located at the Aston Martin headquarters, which is fantastic.”
Visit www.warwickshire.gov.uk/fireandrescue for further information.
