19 November 2008 - Official Opening of an Improved Whitburn Fire Station (Welcome Booklet)
Whitburn Fire Station will be holding the official opening of its new facilities on Thursday 20th November.
The extension and refurbishment have been designed to house the new crewing arrangements for the Station, implemented by the Service’s Improvement Plans, as well as providing better facilities for work in the community by the crews.
The new crewing, called the day shift duty system, means the Station now provides full time cover during the day between 8am and 6pm, and retained cover between 6pm and 8am. As well as carrying out emergency services, the new day shift crew are building on the work undertaken by the retained crew in community safety education.
The official open evening will include speeches from the Convener of the Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service Board Mike Bridgman, Chief Fire Officer Brian Allaway and a presentation from Group Manager David Lockhart.
Convener of the Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service Board, Mike Bridgman, said,
“The completion of this new facility at Whitburn is a further step forward for the Board’s Service Improvement Plan which aims to reduce fires and improve safety right across the Board’s region. The Whitburn Firefighters, and indeed those across West Lothian, have been instrumental in this, adopting and adapting to a new shift pattern where fulltime Firefighters can be more accessible to the public during the day whilst enhancing the excellent work done by our retained crews. The facility gives all our Firefighters in Whitburn a place of work which is appropriate for the important tasks they carry out and allows them adequate space to invite the public in to share the task of making West Lothian and the surrounding area safer from fire.”
David Lockhart, Group Manager for the area covering Whitburn said, “these communities now have an enhanced service available to them, our local retained crews supported by fulltime Firefighters and operating out of a much improved fire station at Whitburn. This arrangement also allows for greater partnership working with our local schools and other agencies, which will help increase safety in these areas. The Fire and Rescue Service in West Lothian and the wider service it provides will be much more accessible to the public on a day-to-day basis.
“One example of the service provided by the new arrangements is the Home Safety Check programme whereby anyone can request local Firefighters to check their homes for the risk of fire, and they will provide and fit a free smoke alarm if required. This can be arranged by ringing freephone 0800 169 0320.”
Enquiries: Aileen Hope, Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service
Tel. 0131 228 2401
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