Extra firepower for the Newton student crew (From St Helens Star)

Extra firepower for the Newton student crew

12:10pm Friday 10th August 2012 in News

A CENTURY ago the firefighters of Newton would roll up at the scene of a blaze on the back of a horse-drawn engine.

Things are very different these days, as demonstrated by the hi-tech gear on show at the new Newton-le-Willows Community Fire Station.

As the official opening of the area’s headquarters was celebrated – it is one of seven new stations being created in Merseyside as part of a £47 million North West private finance initiative – it was also time to mark the history there.

So Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service dug into its archives to reveal a fascinating slice of the advancements made since 1900.

It was unveiled by the Mayor of St Helens, Councillor Geoff Almond, and Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service Chief Fire Officer Dan Stephens.

Special guests took a tour of the new community facility in Borron Road.

Six-year-old Emilia Lamb, who with classmates from St Mary’s Catholic Infant School, won a competition to design a mosaic at the entrance of the station, attended the event.

Firefighters carried out a live rope, hose and casualty lowering exercise.

The new station includes a conference suite, which will be available for the community to use for free.

Mr Stephens said: “The development is a long-term investment in Newton-le-Willows, which will be an asset to the community for many years.”

The station will be managed and maintained by Balfour Beatty over the next 25 years, in return for payments from the fire and rescue authorities in the north west.

At the end of the 25 years the stations will be given back to each authority in an “as new” condition.