Partners have come together to mark the final beam being placed into the structure of the new joint police and fire hub in Redditch.
The fit-for-purpose police and fire hub, due to officially open in 2024, will bring together West Mercia Police and Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service (HWFRS) under one roof, allowing them to work more closely together and ensure communities receive the highest level of service.
To celebrate the building milestone, the following dignitaries came together: West Mercia PCC’s Chief Executive Gareth Boulton, West Mercia Police Chief Constable Pippa Mills, Chief Fire Officer Jon Pryce, Redditch Borough Council Leader Cllr Matt Dormer and Deputy Chief Executive Sue Hanley, building contractors Speller Metcalfe, and High Sheriff for Worcestershire Louise Hewett.
PCC John Campion said: “I am pleased partners have been able to come together to mark this significant moment in the construction of this new building. I hope communities are reassured to see work is progressing at pace, in order to deliver a central hub for the two emergency services to work together and support communities.”
Chief Constable Pippa Mills said: “I’m pleased to be here today to celebrate this major milestone in the construction of our new police and fire hub for Redditch.
“This new building will give the people of Redditch, including our officers, staff and volunteers, a station that is fully fit for modern community policing. The vastly improved facilities will better support the work we do to keep the people in the town and its surrounding areas safe from harm.”
Chief Fire Officer Jon Pryce said: “We are delighted with the progress already made on the new police and fire station for Redditch.
“Our continued collaboration with West Mercia Police will provide the community of Redditch with a new fire station which meets the needs of the modern fire service with facilities which will aid the delivery of our core strategies of delivering high quality Response, Protection and Prevention to our communities. The new building will not only provide vastly improved facilities, it will also be more energy efficient and sustainable for long into the future.”
Mark Hudgeon, Divisional Director at Speller Metcalfe, said: “As a Worcestershire contractor, we are delighted to be able to support our own communities in providing a facility that meets the needs of local residents in 2023 and beyond.”
PICTURED: Chief Fire Officer Jon Pryce, Redditch Borough Council Leader Matt Dormer, who is also a Watch Commander at Redditch Fire Station, and Area Commander Lee Watson.