Council planning officials have recommended the go ahead for a controversial new fire station in Saughall Massie.
The proposed fire station sits on the edge of Wirral’s Green Belt, and has met with vociferous protests from the local community.
West Kirby fire station is being phased out this year because of budget cuts. The fire and rescue service plans to replace Upton fire station with the new Saughall Massie building which will be more central to the area it will need to serve, and a critical two minutes closer to West Kirby and Hoylake.
Opponents argue that Saughall Massie Road will not be able to cope with fire engines responding to emergencies – although this is the same route now used by fire engines travelling from Upton to West Kirby.
A spokesperson for Wirral Council said: “The council is aware this is a sensitive issue in the local community.
“After considering the application and the relevant planning legislation, council officers feel that the application meets the necessary conditions for approval and therefore is being recommended to the Planning Committee on 10 November 2016.
“The decision now rests with the Planning Committee to determine this application. If the Planning Committee decide to approve the application then it will need to be referred to the Secretary of State who may decide to call it in and determine it, or if it is decided not to call it in, the Council will be able to issue a decision notice.”
Dan Stephens, chief fire officer, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, said: “I am pleased that the Planning Officers have recommended the planning application be approved.
“It is my professional opinion that if this planning application is refused by the Planning Committee and the Authority is forced to close West Kirby fire station outright an incident will occur on the West Kirby station area where responding from Upton fire station will result in a delay that will have a direct impact on the outcome in terms of survivability”.
Moreton and Saughall Massie Councillor Chris Blakeley said, “I am absolutely astounded by this recommendation. Given the massive public opposition so far, the road safety concerns and the fire services own admission that it can redevelop the Upton Site, why is the Town Hall willing to sacrifice Wirral’s Green belt now?”
Cllr Blakely added that campaigners would continue to fight the application to build the new fire station in Saughall Massie.
The Chairman of the Saughall Massie Village Area Conservation Society, Les Spencer said, “We must not allow this dangerous precedent of developing on green belt land, when an alternative solution is clear for everyone to see”
The recommendations will be considered by members of the Planning Committee on Thursday November 10, who will then make a final decision on whether the scheme should go ahead.
The full report can be read here http://democracy.wirral.gov.uk/documents/s50037364/16_00985RPT.pdf
