New joined up emergency service provision will be launched in Swansea on Wednesday 22 June 2005.
The community station located at Swansea West, Sketty is, as Chief Fire Officer of the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, Douglas Mackay described, "a fine example of a modern station serving the local community through partnership working and preventative education".
Douglas Mackay continued:
"This is a particularly exciting initiative designed to significantly improve safety and emergency services to the people of Swansea. Our vision is to provide a one-stop shop in future for community safety education delivered by all three emergency services"
Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service and the Welsh Ambulance Trust have worked in partnership to create a joint ambulance and fire station, increasing performance and professional understanding between both services. The station also incorporates a fully equipped multi-media community training room set up to provide a state of the art training facility for use by both services as well as the Safer Swansea Partnership. With the assistance of the Welsh Assembly Government, the community training room has been fitted with the latest interactive IT facilities.
Mark Winter, Regional Ambulance Officer, Central and West Region, Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust, commented:
"This is a great step forward to providing quicker and improved services to the people of Swansea. This the first time in Wales we have had the ambulance service and the fire service working from one base and is an exciting example of partnership working which will lead to a greater understanding between the two services. This in turn will provide an even better service for the community and the ambulance service is looking forward to working with our fire service colleagues both now and in the future."
Thanks to the new facilities Swansea West firefighters are now able to deliver arson intervention training to schools, businesses and local landlords, as well as providing invaluable youth engagement courses in partnership with Swansea Youth Offending Team. In addition to the presence of the Fire and Ambulance Service, the station is also home to the South Wales Police community vehicle.
Superintendent Tim Jones from Swansea Police stated:
"We are delighted to see the opening of this new station. South Wales Police have built up an excellent working partnership with Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service and the Welsh Ambulance Trust to tackle key issues such as vehicle arson and to raise awareness of safety of fireworks and bonfires. The new station will certainly provide us further opportunities and facilities to work even closer together".
Note to Editor:
Members of the press are invited to attend the launch at 12 noon at Swansea West Station, Sketty Lane, Swansea. A light lunch will be available following the event.
Further information may be available by contacting Rebecca Angharad Griffiths, Press/Media Relations Officer, on 0870 60 60 699 or 07968 067 719. Please let us know if you’re planning to attend.