A NEW merged fire station for Bradford is part of a pledge by West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service to make the district a safer place to live and work.

Group manager Martin Speed has set out his goals for the district in his Action Plan 2016-2017 which includes work starting on the new Valley Road station which will replace ones in Shipley and Idle.

Mr Speed said: "The new station will be better placed to respond to some of our higher risk areas around Bradford city centre."

Work was due to start this month but has been put back to May.

The build is expected to take about one year to complete and the station, with its five-storey training tower, will be staffed by 24 fire crew with one engine. 

Included in the many other aims in the action plan are ways of cutting the number of fires and other emergencies by targeting people who are the most vulnerable most vulnerable and by training its staff hard as well as strengthening existing and making new partnerships.

Mr Speed said: “Our aim is to make Bradford district a safer place to live and work.

"We will do this primarily through prevention activities such as home fire safety checks in people’s homes and fire safety visits to workplaces. We will also train hard to ensure that, when required, our response to emergencies is highly professional and effective.”

The plan also contains a video message from West Yorkshire Chief Fire Officer Simon Pilling, which illustrates the wide range of services provided, as well as a detailed breakdown of accomplishments and goals for the future.

Mr Pilling has urged people to take the time to read it and said: “We continue to face significant challenges, not least of which is financial change.

"However, our determination to provide an efficient and effective fire and rescue service still remains as strong as ever. Please take the time to read our Service Plan and we promise to report back on the progress we make as we work towards achieving our strategic priorities and objectives.”

Councillor Judith Hughes, chairman of West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority, said: “I am very proud that we are able to present such glowing accomplishments to the public and set out our plan for how we will continue to make West Yorkshire a safer place to live and work.

"West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service is a professional, forward-thinking organisation with dedicated staff who strive to deliver a first class service to the public.”