Fire stations to be open by next year

The facilities, which will cost £8.5m, signal the closure of sites at Darnall, Mansfield Road and Mosborough in Sheffield, which have been written off as outdated.

New stations will be located on green belt land at Parkway and Birley Moor, which proved controversial with local residents. They protested against the loss of green space before proposals were approved in March.

Political leaders, councillors and representatives from South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service have met to mark the start of the scheme.

Both stations are due to be completed by next summer.

Sheffield South East MP Clive Betts said: “It’s not very often these days you get to see new public sector developments so it’s great to see new facilities going up, particularly recognising they are going to provide an excellent service for my constituents.

“Hopefully they won’t be needed for responding to emergencies too often but nevertheless they are going to be there as security when they are needed.”

Chief fire officer James 
Courtney said: “These two new fire stations are central to the provision of our service in south and east Sheffield and I look forward to their completion next summer.”