The four West Berkshire fire stations offering community groups space for meetings … and how to book them
Four West Berkshire fire stations can also be used by groups as part of a community engagement scheme.
Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service invites people to book the spaces for meetings.
Each has TV screen monitors and Wi-Fi access, with access codes available in the room.
Which fire stations are offering community rooms
• Hungerford Fire Station in Church Street. This can accommodate up to 10 people.
• Newbury Fire Station in Hawthorn Road. Up to 22 people can access this room.
• Newsham Court in Calcot. The headquarters of Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service is next to IKEA, and has various rooms available for community use.
• Theale Fire Station in Wigmore Lane. This centre opened in 2022, and can accommodate up to 20 people in purpose-built rooms.
What do people need to know
If required, groups should ensure an appropriate number of first raiders are available. Each room has a first aid kit.
There are a range of health and safety measures in place, including access to anti-bacterial wipes and sprays.
At the end of a session, the room should be wiped down and cleaned, with rubbish in bins, leaving it tidy for the next group.
Who can use the community rooms?
The fire service says the rooms are for all community groups, but there are limitations.
To ensure it is fair for everyone, bookings are restricted to once or twice a week, for a maximum period of three months.
How to book
A booking form is available on Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s website, which should be downloaded.
Once complete, it should be emailed to reception@rbfrs.co.uk along with a risk assessment form and proof of public liability insurance.
The fire service cannot accept a booking without those documents in place.
What happens next?
It will take five working days for Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service staff to confirm the bookings, and send instructions on how to access the site.
On the day of the meeting, those booking a room should contact the fire service for the pin code needed to access the fire station they are using.
The organiser or lead member of the meeting will need to bring proof of identity, and this may be requested by fire station staff at any time.
Where can you find more information?
Full details and the booking form are available on Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s website https://www.rbfrs.co.uk/your-service/fire-stations/community-rooms/
It includes contact details, addresses, and details of the other fire stations that have community rooms.
