I see Avon Fire and Rescue Service have put in a B&NES planning application to provide a temporary fire station for the city for around 18 months while the current fire station at Bathwick Street is demolished and rebuilt.
The proposed site is at Roseberry Place, off Roseberry Road and alongside the A36 Lower Bristol Road. It’s the former Unigate Dairies Depot.
If approved, it would involve the erection of a temporary aluminium-framed single-span appliance bay linked by a canopy to associated offices, storage, gym, and welfare facilities to be provided in Portakabins.
According to the Planning Statement submitted, “The proposed temporary fire station directly supports the essential decant, demolition, and redevelopment of the existing Bath Fire Station at Bathwick Street.
This enabling development is critical to maintaining continuous emergency service provision while facilitating the delivery of a modern, fit-for-purpose permanent fire station that will serve Bath and the wider District’s communities.”
“During the 18-month redevelopment period, an alternative temporary facility is required to ensure continuity of emergency services. AF&RS provides life-saving emergency response services that cannot be interrupted, making this temporary relocation essential to protect public safety while enabling vital infrastructure investment.
Following extensive site search and feasibility assessments, the former Unigate Dairies Depot site at Roseberry Place has been identified as the only viable temporary location that meets operational requirements whilst maintaining statutory response times. The site’s strategic location within Bath’s established urban area ensures continued service delivery to over 107,000 residents and approximately 6 million annual visitors.”
Check out the application for yourself via https://app.bathnes.gov.uk/webforms/planning/details.html?refval=25%2F03246%2FFUL
The demolition of the existing fire station will be a significant architectural loss to Bath. Designed by Molly Taylor, one of very few female architects from her era, it is a rare example of Art Deco in Bath. A great shame!
That is shame! It’s an elegant Art Déco design combing style with strength; it is much admired both for its purpose and its looks. Only last week, my niece and I drove past and her comment was exactly to the point. ” I’ve never seen a more beautiful Fire Station”.
I agree. It’s a handsome building. Why not build the new fire station on the “temporary ” site. Land too valuable presumably. The existing fire station would make an excellent arts venue methinks. With car parking!
The temporary fire station will put further pressure on a junction that already demands illegal manoeuvres much of the day to egress Bellotts Road. The council should make Bellotts Road two way over its railway bridge or reverse traffic flow on the Bellotts Road and Brook Road bridges as an urgent safety measure.
The existing site doesn’t appear to make very efficient use of space. What about moving the SW Ambulance Service into the existing Fire Station building and redeveloping the rest of the site for the new Fire Station? And build something equally attractive.