Sheffield mayor unveils new £3.5m fire station in Sheffield

Birley Moor fire station cost £3.5m to build to provide cover to the south and east of Sheffield.

It was built at the same time as the Parkway fire station, near the Sheffield Parkway exit for Mosborough, to replace the aging Mansfield Road, Darnall and Mosborough stations.

Fire chiefs have had their Government funding cut and have had to find ways of making the savings, including cutting back office jobs.

They hope replacing old stations which were expensive to run and maintain will save money over the years.

Lord Mayor of Sheffield, Coun. Talib Hussain, formally unveiled the new Birley Moor station in front of invited guests, including pupils and teachers from nearby Birley Primary School.

Firefighters staged a demonstration to showcase their skills as part of the opening ceremony.

Chief Fire Officer James Courtney, of South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue, said: “The financial pressures the fire and rescue service faces are both well documented and unprecedented.

“But this is the second fire station opening I have attended in recent weeks and the facilities both at Parkway station and here at Birley Moor are the best possible physical reminder of the fact that despite the challenges we face we remain absolutely committed to supporting our future.”

Area Manager Phil Shillito, head of emergency response, said: “These two new fire stations are central to the provision of our service in south and east Sheffield.

“They are located in the optimum positions to enable us to respond quickly and effectively to emergency incidents.”