Patterdale gets new fire station

The first of five new fire stations in Cumbria has been completed.

The station, at Patterdale, which has been built on the site of the village's existing building, is due to be officially opened on Thursday.

Two other stations are being built in Carlisle and one each in Penrith and Workingtion.

The project is part of a £48m deal with two other fire and rescue authorities in the North West to build a total of 16 community fire stations.

Training facilities

Cumbria's Chief Fire Officer, Dominic Harrison, said: "These new fire stations are going to be a major step forward in terms of the facilities at our disposal and the opening of the first new one at Patterdale is a real landmark moment for us.

"The great thing about this new station is that as well as being an improvement for our firefighters, in terms of welfare and training facilities, it remains located within the heart of the community we serve."

Patterdale will be followed into service by two new fire stations in Carlisle - at Durranhill and off Newtown Road - in the spring and the new Penrith station at Kemplay Bank, in the summer.

The Penrith station will be the new headquarters of Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service.

Work is due to begin on the fifth new station at Moorclose in Workington in spring 2012 and is set to be completed by spring 2013.