New fire station in Berkshire opens as two others are closed

The new station in Theale will provide improved access to the M4 and A4, the fire service said

A "state-of-the-art" fire station has opened in Berkshire to coincide with two other sites in the county closing.

Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS) will share the new community facility in Theale with Thames Valley Police and South Central Ambulance.

The Dee Road station in Tilehurst, Reading, and the Pangbourne site will no longer be used.

The fire service said all five staff at Pangbourne were offered alternative jobs, but three chose to leave.

A spokesman for RBFRS said the building in Theale was "the latest in a series of investments" following the refurbishment and rebuilding of Hungerford and Crowthorne stations respectively.

He said it was part of the fire authority's 15-year capital investment strategy, which had a budget of £9.2m.

"We are confident the costs will be within this," the spokesman added.

"We have shared some of the capital costs and ongoing revenue costs with [the police and ambulance service]."

Crews have started moving into the station, built off land in Wigmore Road previously owned by Network Rail, ahead of a formal opening ceremony in March 2022.

The building, described by RBFRS as "state-of-the-art", includes a community room available to book by the public.

It also has solar panels on the roof and will have electric vehicle charging points installed.

Councillor Angus Ross, the fire authority's lead member for strategic assets, said the station would provide improved access for emergency vehicles to the M4 and A4 corridors.

"In addition to the emergency response from the blue light services, there will be wider benefits for the community, such as a greater focus on preventative work and broader community integration and involvement," he added.