THE Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Joanne Dodds, today sank the first spade to signal the start of construction work for a new fire station in Shipley.

The new station in Valley Road, Shipley, will merge the existing Shipley fire station, built in Saltaire Road in 1977 and Idle fire station, built in 1956.

It will be equipped with one pump and be crewed by full time firefighters, providing daily, 24 hour emergency cover.

The two-bay station will also be a base for prevention work, raising public awareness of fire and road safety.

There will also be a community room which will be available for local groups, police and ambulance.

West Yorkshire Deputy Chief Fire Officer Dave Walton said: "Over the last decade we have seen a reduction in incidents of 61 per cent in Idle’s station area and 40 per cent in Shipley’s station area.

"We believe this is due to the investment that we have put into prevention initiatives, such as our Home Fire Safety Checks.

"The new Shipley fire station will be positioned in a prime location to meet the current demand and allow firefighters good access into areas of higher risk."

But Councillor Jeanette Sunderland, leader of Bradford Council's Liberal Democrats group, who represents the Idle & Thackley ward, said she had opposed the closure of the village's station.

"We have five sets of high-rise, seven storey flats in Idle where Incommunities has a 'Stay Put' policy for residents if fire breaks out," she said.

"I still need it proving to me that those people will be as safe as they are now. You just have to look at a map."

Dave Gillian, Bradford division secretary for the Fire Brigade's Union also spoke of his concerns at the merger of two fire stations.

"There is no getting away from the fact that activity has fallen - we get fewer fires," he said.

"The problem is the speed you can get resources to those fires.

"Whenever there are these sort of celebrations you must remember it's also a cut in fire cover, fire resources and jobs."