TENBURY fire station will also be the base for police officers in the town.

As reported in the ‘Advertiser’ the two emergency services are to be based in one location in the fire station in Burford.

The move brings to an end years of doubt after the announcement that, as part of a cost-cutting measure, the police station in Tenbury was to close.

It was decided to find an alternative shared building and a number of options were considered, including the library, but nothing was considered to be suitable.

Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service say that they already work collaboratively on a number of projects and continually explore opportunities for closer working in order to deliver more efficient and improved ways of working.

Tenbury is one of four fire stations identified by the service as suitable for shared occupation.

“Seizing these opportunities to co-locate with the police not only fits in with the government’s blue light agenda, but also makes more effective use of publicly owned assets and demonstrates our commitment towards more efficient and effective joint working,” said chief fire officer Mark Yates.

"Our on-call fire stations are only occupied for a handful of hours every week and achieving better and more effective use should benefit both organisations and the local communities.”

He said that the move would be possible at Tenbury fire station with only minor adjustments to meet the needs of the police.

“Although police and fire personnel will be situated on the same site at these locations, their functions will remain completely separate,” he added.

Further benefits claimed for colocating with the police include increased site security, opportunities for improved working practices and efficiencies for both organisations.

“This move with Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service reflects our ambition to work ever more closely with a range of partner organisations in the communities we serve,” said Anthony Bangham, Deputy Chief Constable of West Mercia.

“We believe that, in the interests of efficiency and best use of public money, it makes good sense for us to work together in sharing the four buildings that have been identified.

"By doing this, we reduce the overall cost of maintaining premises and ensure that precious resources are focused on our officers, staff and volunteers who deliver the policing services to protect people from harm.”

It was in February that Police and Crime Commissioner Bill Longmore told the Advertiser that a police presence in Tenbury had been secured.

He revealed that plans were at an advanced stage to move the police into the Fire Station.

The 77-year-old Police and Crime Commissioner, who is stepping down in May, said that he had put his foot down against closing the existing police station until an alternative had been found.

Bill Longmore believes that having the two emergency services in the same building made sense.

“It is a model that we are seeing used in other places and there is sense in having the emergency services based in the same place,” he said.

“There is room in the fire station and it is the most suitable of the various options that were considered.”