Funding for new £2.5million Halifax fire station is set aside by authority

WORK TO replace Halifax ‘s “not fit for purpose” fire station has been approved as part of West Yorkshire Fire Service’s latest budget.

West Yorkshire Fire Authority approved its 2020/21 budget and four year medium term financial plan at a meeting.

Included in those plans is a £21.8 million scheme to replace three fire stations – Keighley, Halifax and Huddersfield and the “rationalisation” of the fire service headquarters site in Birkenshaw.

The service had previously said the scheme would include a £2.5m new build fire station in Halifax in 2021/22.

The draft budget that was approved said: “These stations are under need of modernisation and are not fit for purpose for a modern fire service.”

At the meeting members of the Fire Authority were told the main sources of funding for the projects would be borrowing and capital reserves.

The fire service is funded through a number of sources – including 1 per cent of all business rates collected in West Yorkshire, and a precept added to Council Tax. Members agreed to set this precept at 1.99 per cent – which they were told would help balance the service’s budget this coming year.

The budget for the coming year includes £30,000 for body worn cameras, £450,000 to replace or upgrade fire hydrants, £200,000 for electric vehicle charging units at fire service sites, £500,000 towards smoke alarms and the first £1,050,000 towards the fire station re-build projects.