The finishing touches are being applied on the project to build Theale Community Fire Station by the contractors, Knights Brown.
Building work on the new station began in January 2020 and rapid progress has been made throughout, as highlighted by this timelapse footage captured on site.
This new station supports our ongoing commitment to work collaboratively with our emergency service partners, offering a shared location for Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS), Thames Valley Police (TVP) and South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS). As well as improvements for all Services in the efficient use of public funds, the relationships and opportunities of working more closely together is expected to support greater collective effectiveness for the services we provide to the public.
The design of the station will also offer a fully accessible space and bookable meeting room for community use.
The new Community Fire Station will also enable improved emergency response access to the M4 and A4 corridors. This was identified during a search to optimise the locations of our fire stations, which formed part of the Service Redesign public consultation completed in 2016 and 2017. The relocation to the new Theale will result in the Dee Road site being released for sale and the closure and sale of Pangbourne Fire Station, delivering on those public consultation outcomes. From the new site at Theale residents can be assured that they will continue to receive the same high level of service that they have become used to.
As part of this, crews from Dee Road Fire Station in Reading will shortly begin the process of relocating to this new, state-of-the-art facility this Autumn. Services to the public will of course be maintained throughout this transition period.
Councillor Angus Ross, Lead Member for Strategic Assets on Royal Berkshire Fire Authority, said: “I’m delighted that Theale Community Fire Station is nearing completion and am confident that it will be a fantastic investment that the local community will be proud of.
“I know that this new community fire station will provide a modern, fit-for-purpose facility that will deliver on our strategic commitment to ensure that our fire stations, people and resources are placed firmly at the heart of local communities.”
Theale Community Fire Station is the latest in a series of investments through Royal Berkshire Fire Authority’s Strategic Asset Investment Framework, following the refurbishment of Hungerford Community Fire Station and the rebuild of Crowthorne Community Fire Station.
To find out more, please visit rbfrs.co.uk/Theale.