Fire and ambulance crews are now moving into the new joint ambulance, fire and police station in Lincoln. The Lincolnite went for a look inside.
The brand new £21 million station on South Park is now home to 45 firefighters and 72 ambulance staff. Colleagues from Lincolnshire Police will move in this autumn, with their stations on West Parade and in Bracebridge Heath set to close.
Once work is completed on the rest of the building by this autumn it will become the first tri-service operational station in the country.
Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Executive Member for fire & rescue services at Lincolnshire County Council, Councillor Nick Worth, told The Lincolnite: “It’s fantastic. It’s a result of many years’ work. What a great facility this is.
“It’s nice to see Lincolnshire leading the way on this. There’s been an awful lot of planning to get to the stage we have, but it’s really worthwhile. We’ve seen just this morning a 999 call go out and the team were out there within 30 to 40 seconds, that says a lot about the way the building has been designed to encourage that quick access.”
Executive Member for fire & rescue services at Lincolnshire County Council, Councillor Nick Worth. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
The estimate later increased to around £21 million. Of this figure £7.5 million in funding was received from the government.
When asked if the project was over budget, Councillor Worth added: “No, it’s within budget. I think the unique thing about this building was because it was the first of its kind we weren’t really sure what the end product was going to be, so we had an estimate at the start of the project.
Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
“All three services added bits in as we went along, but it is within that £21 million budget. It was an estimate. The police added some bits to do it and then we had to alter bits just to make it more efficient and work better for all three services.”
Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Three fire engines, a technical response vehicle, eight ambulances and four fast response cars will be based at the station.
There will also be a sliding fire pole between floors and EMAS will have four Make Ready teams to ensure all returning ambulances are cleaned and restocked. The building also includes a gym.
The fire pole. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
EMAS is leaving their building next door, which is ‘no longer fit for purpose’, to move into the new facility.
EMAS’ Director of Finance and deputy chief executive Mike Naylor said it is “probably our best building in the whole of the East Midlands”.
He told The Lincolnite: “One of the ironic things is we’ve actually got a better building and it’s saving us money. It’s more cost effective, it’s a newer building, we’re sharing the costs of maintaining the building with fire and the police, so everybody gains.”
EMAS’ Director of Finance and deputy chief executive Mike Naylor and General Manager for the Lincolnshire division Sue Cousland. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Chief Fire Officer Les Britzman said: “It’s very exciting because it carries on from our collaboration that we’ve got at the moment with a lot EMAS crews in Louth and Sleaford.
Chief Fire Officer Les Britzman. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
“This is the first tri-service station, although we already are in the police headquarters at Nettleham which has been fantastic. It’s an opportunity for all the crews to work, train and socialise together and get to know each other so they’re a lot more effective.”
Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
The construction of the building is managed by Lincolnshire County Council and delivered by Wilmott Dixon.
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Update: Lincolnshire Police said on June 30 that Benjamin Flatters has now been detained.
A 31-year-old Lincolnshire man is wanted by police in connection with a serious assault, just months after he was given a year-long prison sentence.
Benjamin Flatters, 31, was sentenced to 12 months in prison in December 2021 after he frightened a woman and her grandson by arming himself with a knife he’d taken from the room of another resident at a motel he was staying at.
He admitted two charges of affray and possession of a bladed article after this incident, and it is not the first time he has been in trouble with the law.
Flatters was given a two-week jail term in 2013 when he posted offensive comments on Facebook regarding the murder of Drummer Lee Rigby in London.
He had sent messages of a “grossly offensive” nature, aimed towards Muslims and extremists, while also being charged for allegedly sending messages of a sexual nature to underage girls and offering to supply drugs via social media.
He is now wanted by officers in connection with another serious assault, and if you have seen him or know where he is you should contact Lincolnshire Police on 101.
A Lincoln village pub which has been shut for six years is set to get a big refurbishment in the hopes of securing its future.
The Horse and Jockey on Waddington High Street could get a bigger beer garden, interior redecoration and extensive improvements to the outside.
Operator Stars Pubs and Bars wants to find a new operator for the country pub once work is complete.
The list of proposed changes include a new canopy, alterations to the conservatory, a 70% bigger patio, a replacement main entrance, external redecoration, internal alterations, an electric vehicle charging point and an accessible toilet.
The application says: “The premises are currently vacant and have been so for approximately 6 years. The proposals are designed to re-instate a viable public house operation and to make best use of the premises and its existing facilities.”
It adds that the building needs “considerable investment in order to address ongoing wear and tear”.
The pub’s owner hopes to find a new operator | Photo: Google
The Grade II listed building is located on the junction of High Street and Manor Lane.
Parts of the building date back to the 18th century, with various extensions added.
It closed around 2016 as many pubs found trade increasingly difficult.
Bridgeway Contracts have drawn up designs for refurbishing the country pub and making it appealing to customers again.
A report into the application says that the changes would “protect the heritage asset, reduce any potential negative effects on the Conservation Area from a significant building being unoccupied and to mitigate risks associated with medium term vacancy such as vandalism and theft.”