Millions spent on West Sussex fire stations - but nothing for Crawley

By shewitt

COUNTY Hall bosses have spent £2million revamping two fire stations - despite denying Crawley its much-needed new facility.

Haywards Heath and Bognor Regis both have new buildings, yet the town's firefighters are being left to work in an "outdated" building in Ifield Drive.

A total of £2 million has been spent by West Sussex County Council on revamping the two stations in the past year, however earlier this month the authority said it could not afford a new Crawley base because of a "national debt crisis".

The News was told plans had to be put on hold for a further four years because there was no money to fund the project, which would see the station move from its current site to a new state-of-the-art premises on Cheals Roundabout.

However, it has now emerged money has been spent on other sites instead.

In Haywards Heath, around £1.6 million was spent on a new extension to help current firefighters and also house new paramedics.

In Bognor Regis, around £500,000 has been spent on a new building that will specifically be for young people attending fire cadet courses.

A West Sussex County Council spokesperson has said plans for Haywards Heath and Bognor Regis have been on the cards since around 2007 - the same time plans were first submitted for a new station for Crawley.

A council spokesperson said: "Haywards Heath Fire Station is being extended, but this has been on the books for a considerable time and also ties in with the fact it now houses paramedics.

"The funding for this has nothing to do with Crawley fire station.

"When it comes to priorities it is a matter of when and if something needs to be done.

"Crawley fire station would be a multi-million pound project."

Writing in the News recently Peter Evans, cabinet member for public protection at the county council, admitted there is "no questioning" the need for a new fire station, describing the current building as "outdated".