Theale Community Fire Station officially opens
A new tri-service fire station in Theale was officially opened on Thursday.
Theale Community Fire Station, located on Wigmore Lane, was opened when James Puxley, His Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant for the Royal County of Berkshire, cut the ribbon at 3pm.
The state-of-the-art building contains facilities for all three key emergency services in the county; Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service, Thames Valley Police, and South Central Ambulance Service.
Commenting on yesterday’s opening, chairman of the Royal Berkshire Fire Authority Paul Gittings said: “Today represents another important milestone for Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service as we modernise our buildings.
“This important work supports the Fire Authority’s commitment towards ensuring that fire stations, and our people and resources are placed at the heart of local communities.”
By having all three organisations under one roof, the station aims to deliver a higher quality of service to Berkshire residents by strengthening the working relationship between fire, police and ambulance services."
The station also contains areas that community groups and clubs can hire out and use.
Mr Gittings added: “As well as improvements for all services in the efficient use of public funds, the relationships and opportunities of working more closely together is expected to support greater collective effectiveness for the service we provide to the public.
“These shared facilities and collaboration will ensure that we are able to work alongside our partners to deliver a more effective, efficient and joined up approach for the communities of Theale and its surrounding areas.”
Chief Fire Officer Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service Wayne Bowcock said: “Careful consideration was given to the location of Theale Community Fire Station, with the main aim of improving the overall speed of response times to emergency incidents.
“As such, the station now offers improved access to major road networks, such as the M4 and A4 corridors, while ensuring emergency vehicles are closer to the surrounding communities.”
As well as being staffed by firefighters, the station also contains space for local neighbourhood policing teams to operate in, and welfare facilities for ambulance crews to use.
It also contains improved training facilities, and has been designed to promote an inclusive working environment for a range of staff from across the fire and rescue service and partner agencies.
Police and Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley Matthew Barber said: “Thames Valley Police is pleased to have space within this development in Theale, allowing us to work alongside our partner agencies to protect and support across Berkshire communities.
“Theale Community Fire Station provides our officers and staff with the space to collaborate across all emergency organisations, strengthening partnerships and delivering effective services.”
Kirsten Willis-Drewett, head of operations at South Central Ambulance Service, said: “We’re delighted that Theale Community Fire Station will bring even closer working relationships between local ambulance, fire and rescue and police services. The three emergency services have, of course, always worked closely together during incidents and through community events.
“In addition to this, all three emergency services will take part in joint training exercises and share expertise in a number of areas, whether this be rescue or casualty care.”
The Theale Community Fire Station is the Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s third tri-service community station, following the Hungerford station opening in 2017, and the Crowthorne one in 2021.
Although the station was officially opened last Thursday, it has been in operation since last October.
