Ballycastle in line for new fire station?
Thursday, 16 October 2008
Ballycastle’s current fire station, on Market Street, where training facilities, Disability Discrimination Act compliance, parking and gender facilities have been rated as poor.
The vision for a new fire station in Ballycastle has been described as a building for the public, combining a fully operational rescue unit, and a dedicated area for community events.
Three members of the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) attended a meeting of Moyle District Council on Monday, October 13, to outline the need for a new station, and the potential benefits it would bring to the town.
NIFRS is interested in moving the station from its current Market Street site to a council-owned green field location on the Ramoan Road.
The station has been at its present location since 1961, and a recent report outlined that while it was operational, it required major repairs or an upgrade.
Northern Area Group Commander, Peter O'Reilly, told council members that the old football pitch on Ramoan Road, measuring 1.8 acres, has been identified as a suitable site which meets emergency response standards.
A new building would contain an operational fire station along side a community room, allowing the service to host community and educational events.
Mr O'Reilly said: "The new station must be able to house equipment and appliances and it will also consist of a community room. New stations are called community fire stations, as they benefit the community as a whole.
“Through the community room, there is the potential to provide a cadet scheme, which teaches children aged over 13 basic concepts of fire training.
“Local Intervention Fire Education (LIFE) schemes could also be held. These are intensive, week long training initiatives for young people who have been referred through the police, schools, or social services. We can see the benefits of bringing children in to these schemes, as some early participants are now leaders."
Need
The Ballycastle Fire and Rescue Service responds to an excess of 200 emergency calls per year, covering an extensive area, which reaches into Cushendall and Ballymoney.
However, a recent Emergency Services Investment Project into the town's current station, labelled training facilities, Disability Discrimination Act compliance, parking and gender facilities at the station as poor.
Mr O'Reilly continued: "The worst description you can have is poor. There is only a multi-use room for training, so alot of it takes place around the council offices, schools, and the ferry terminal car-park.
“The current site is landlocked, so there is no chance of extending it. The town centre location means it is difficult getting in and out, especially at busy times such as the Lammas Fair, and around the school run times.
“Disability access is poor, with no way in or out except through the appliance doors. There is no parking, and when there is a call out, there is a proliferation of cars all over the street.
“At present, there are no female firefighters in Ballycastle, but that is not to say there won't be, and at present we cannot accommodate them with facilities."
A new sustainable building would include suitable external and internal training amenities, improved parking facilities and it would be compliant to the Disability Discrimination Act.
Support
The case for a new fire station in the town received cross-party support from council members, who said it was necessary to upgrade current facilities, for the benefit of the whole community.
SDLP councillor Madeline Black said: "I would give this project 100 per cent support. Accessibility and parking are two big issues and I would like to think everyone would support it."
Sinn Fein councillor Padraig McShane said that he supported the arguement for a new station due to the benefits it would bring to the community.
“The Fire and Rescue Service is about much more than a rescue service. It is an integral part of the community. I went on one of the LIFE schemes before and they help people on the margins of society, and are a benefit to the whole community. They provide a remarkable service."
While the site meets the requirements of the Fire and Rescue Service, Council Chief Executive Richard Lewis said that under the draft Northern Area Plan, the land was zoned for recreational use, and this may be difficult to overturn.
The Housing Executive has previously expressed an interest in the land, and under Planing Policy Statement (PPS)8, social housing could be permitted on the site.
“We were restricted because we have no site in Ballycastle, so we can't go to planning when we have no site. We knew another body was interested in the land," said Mr O'Reilly
Independent councillor Seamus Blaney said: "I can't understand that the Housing Executive would compete. At Market Street, the fire station is a danger to the public and the service.
“The Housing Executive had a site on Ramoan Road for 37 years and they did nothing with it. They are looking to build houses yet they are selling them at the same time. Will this field sit for 37 years too?"
DUP councillor Robert McIlroy said the council had to support the greatest need, and he agreed that the fire station needed a different site.
Sinn Fein councillor Cathal Newcombe said that he supported the case for a new fire station due to the inclusiveness the new building would create.
“The fire service is made up of a fantastic bunch of guys, and I know they be out on the road sometimes but it is either that or people would burn," he said.
Sinn Fein representative, and council vice-chairperson, Cara McShane said she was shocked by the facilities available to Ballycastle firefighters, during a recent visit to the station.
She said: "I was shocked at how poor the facilities were at this day and age. A number of people in the area avail of the schemes provided by the service, and have to go to Portrush or Ballymoney. If we go ahead with the community facilities, alot more would be available here."
If the council decide to sell the land to the Fire and Rescue Service, a decision on the future of the Ballycastle station would then rest with the Chief Fire Officer and the Director of Planning.
