FIREFIGHTERS joined the builders preparing to start work on their new fire station for the official ‘cutting of the sod ceremony’ in Chagford on Monday.

Crew from the station joined builders CG Fry and Son and local councillors to watch Sara Randall Johnson, chair of the Devon and Somerset Fire Authority, do the honours.

The new fire station is being built as part of a development of 93 new houses in the village at Bellacouch Meadow, the result of extensive collaboration between the local community, the parish council and Dartmoor National Park Authority.

It will replace the existing fire station, served by an on-call (retained) crew, which is next door to the housing development, and is the first on-call development to be built in Devon for 13 years. Following extensive negotiations, it will be built at zero cost to the fire authority and taxpayers.

Mrs Randall Johnson said: ‘It is very exciting that Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service is delivering a new fire station for Chagford so I was delighted to participate in the “lifting the sod” ceremony and to meet those involved, including CG Fry and Son builders.  A project such as this really is a team effort involving many stages and much effort. 

‘Fire stations are important places within our community so involvement of local people, stakeholders and partners, as well as our service personnel, fire authority members, architect, planners and builder are all vital contributors. In addition, I would particularly like to thank Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service estates team who have been the conductors of this process, guiding the service and the authority to reach this point today. 

‘I look forward to seeing the completed project in due course. I hope that all runs smoothly and safely for the builders and look forward to the day when service vehicles are ready to serve local communities from the new fire station in Chagford.’

Philip Fry of CG Fry & Son said: ‘This development has been a result of a real community effort to achieve the benefits that are arriving from it; these not only include the fire station but also a new car park, employment units and much needed affordable housing. At the ceremony on Monday, it was great to meet everybody from the fire service and catch up with the parish council who have been instrumental in its delivery.’

Mark Shears, watch manager at Chagford Fire Station, said: ‘I’m looking forward to having a new modern fire station that is a little bit larger, so we can park our 4x4 inside the station. Hopefully it will encourage some more people in the town to come forward and become Chagford firefighters.’

For more information go to the website www.dsfire.gov.uk