Last updated 07:28, Friday, 04 July 2008

PLANS for a new fire station in Workington were unveiled in Parliament this week.

A £66.4 million investment to build 16 new fire stations in the North West was confirmed by Communities and Local Government department on Wednesday.

Cumbria will receive five new stations with one being built in the Moorclose area of Workington

Workington MP Tony Cunningham said: “We need 21st century fire stations with up to date facilities.

“I am pleased that Workington has been given one of the stations and I believe that we will now be able to provide excellent emergency assistance when needed.

“We already have the police station and a hospital and this will complete the set.”

The fire stations will be constructed on a mixture of new and existing sites, in some cases involving demolition and phased working around operational units or other emergency service facilities.

The Government department says the new stations will replace aging, inappropriate or poorly located facilities.

A spokesman for department said: “We are looking to continue to drive down fires and fire deaths and the state-of-the-art buildings will provide modern facilities for hosting public fire safety events.

“Firefighters will enjoy better working conditions.”

Mr Cunningham hoped that a new station would come with a better road network and he has been campaigning for a Workington Southern Link bypass to be built.

He said: “It is great news about the station but we must ensure that we have the right road network to support it.”

The project will deliver five stations in Cumbria at Carlisle East, Carlisle West (two stations), Penrith (incorporating County Council Emergency Planning Unit & Emergency Control Room) and Workington.