Official opening ofDunstable CommunityFire Station

by Her Royal Highness Princess AnneTuesday 13th January 2009

A visit by Her Royal Highness Princess Annemarked the official opening of DunstableCommunity Fire Station on Tuesday13th January 2009.

The event heralded the completion of the£4.1 million design and build project, carriedout by contractor ISG Jackson, which began in2007 to provide first class operational facilitiesfor the town’s firefighters and a communityfacility for the people of Dunstable andsurrounding towns.

The station houses state of the art equipmentfor firefighters who provide emergency coverand community support to 75,000 people in thearea. In addition the station has a lecturetheatre, flexible meeting rooms and a prayerroom, all with disabled access.

Her Royal Highness was escorted by LordLieutenant Mr Sam Whitbread and presentedto: Chief Fire Officer Paul Fuller;

The High Sheriff of Bedfordshire Mr Nazir Jessa;Chairman of the Combined Fire AuthorityCllr Anthony Duggan; Chief Constable ofBedfordshire Mrs Gillian Parker; Chief Fire andRescue Adviser CLG and Sir Ken Knight.

Princess Anne was given a tour of the newstation, meeting staff and local communitygroups who use the station’s facilities including:

South Beds Dial-A-Ride who provide door todoor transport for the disabled and elderly;Yu-Act Youth Action Community Team whichsupports young people with a criminalbackground to take part in voluntary work;V Involved who aim to inspire young peopleto be positively involved in their communities;the Central Safety Force which runs interactivescenarios for school children to test theirawareness of dangers; representatives fromSt John Ambulance; and the Bedfordshire PoliceNeighbourhood Policing Team.

Official opening

HRH withBrenda Boatwright ofSouth Beds Dial-A-Ride.

Members of Yu-ActYouth ActionCommunity Group.

Hazel Simmonds, fromSouth Beds District Council,

explains the work ofthe Central Safety Force.

HRH met with BLFRSYouth DevelopmentOfficer Cassandra Swan.

Fire Safety ManagerLen Allen gave an overview oflegislative fire safety work.

Representatives fromSt John Ambulance.

Building work on theCommunity Fire Stationbegan in 2007 withlocal youngsters invitedto ‘dig the first sod’ inAugust that year.Children from

Houghton Regis and Dunstable Beavers groupsand the local Air Training CIPR visited the site to‘dig in’.

Operational facilities on the ground floorinclude a bay area for three fire appliances,library, study area, offices, gym, locker room andcanteen. A three storey training block outsideprovides a modern on site training facility.

During her visit Princess Anne met withBedfordshire and Luton Fire Service personneland was given an overview of legislative firesafety; community and youth work; andfirefighter fitness. In the drill yard there weredemonstrations of fire fighting and roadtraffic collision rescue work.

Over 100 invited guests from the localcommunity were invited to attend the eventand see Her Royal Highness unveil a plaque,officially opening the station.

HRH said: “It is a pleasure to see the investmentin a building like this, not just the quality ofsupport it gives to the fire service and its abilityto function, but also for its support for thecommunity and what it brings with it. Thankyou for all your hard work.”

Dunstable Station Commander Mark Barter:“We are very proud of ournew station, it is alreadybeing used by a number oflocal groups and charitiesas a meeting venue andtraining facility. We hopethat this new style of firestation will help us developeven closer ties with local

people and spread fire safety messagesthroughout the community.”

Community Fire Station

Chairman of the Bedfordshireand Luton Combined Fire

Authority Cllr Anthony Duggan :“This is our flagship station and

it represents the modernisedvision of a community fire and

rescue service. By providinga facility where the community

and an operational fireservice come together, wehope to make a difference

to people's lives.”

Chief Fire Officer Paul Fuller :“It has been a long journey

since our concept for acommunity fire station was first

developed seven years ago.I believe this new station willbecome absolutely embedded

in the life of local people.”

Road Traffic Collisiondemonstration in the

drill yard.

Over one hundred guestsfrom the local community

were invited to attendthe event.

State of the art gymequipment atthe station.

Presentation on waterrescue techniquesand equipment.

Dunstable Firefighter Peter Hamilton was presented toHer Royal Highness during the visit as it was his last dayof duty, after 30 years of service at Dunstable.

A posy was presented to Princess Anne by five year oldLeoni Thomas. Before departing Her Royal Highnesssigned the visitor book.

Bedfordshire and LutonFire and Rescue Service

Fire HeadquartersSouthfields Road

KempstonBedfordMK42 7NR

Tel: 01234 351081

www.bedsfire.com

For a free Home Fire Safety Checkcall 0800 043 5042

Firefighters gatheraround the plaque for agroup photo to celebratethe events of the day.