Hucknall Fire Station closes after 75 years as firefighters move to new base

Members of the public were concerned they were losing their fire station when the Watnall Road station closed

Hucknall Fire Station has closed its door after 75 years in the town and moved to a new 'super hub' where it will share its facilities with police and the ambulance service.

The centre at the East Midlands Ambulance station in Annesley Road will have police officers, firefighters and paramedics working all under one roof as part of cost-cutting measures.

East Midlands Ambulance Service said this is the first 'tri-service station' to be created in Nottinghamshire .

The former Hucknall Fire Station in Watnall Road first opened in 1944 to support RAF Hucknall.

Crews have collected handfuls of memorabilia over the years, all of which have been moved to the new site.

Craig Day, district manager for Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: "Whilst the old station holds many fond memories, we are looking forward to an exciting new chapter for Hucknall Fire Station.

"Moving to a new site is a fantastic investment in the on-call team based at Hucknall and fully embraces collaborative working with our blue-light partners.

"The new location provides a great opportunity for those who live or work near to the station to come and join as on-call firefighters, to serve the communities of Nottinghamshire."

Building work began back in early May this year at the existing EMAS site, to construct two major extensions, in order to create more room for the fire service fleet.

Assistant Chief Officer Ian Pritchard said: "Planning for this move has been going on behind the scenes for nearly three years.

"It’s often overlooked when these projects are delivered, the amount of time and effort involved to get to where we are today.

"Many of our staff have been involved in this project, they’ve been working hard for a long time to get everything ready for our crews to move in.

"I would like to say thank you to all of those involved from the Hucknall on-call crew, the estates team and the support staff who have all helped to bring this joint-collaboration to life, creating the first blue-light tri-service hub of its kind in Nottinghamshire."

Ashfield Independent Councillor Jim Blagden, who represents Hucknall Central, said residents were concerned when the station closed.

"People are thinking it is another thing we have lost from Hucknall," he said. "But we have not. It has just relocated. I do not think the publicity was put out.

"I am up for progress. It's new location has easy access to the motorway and to the town. Hucknall Road is getting so congested with all the house building."