NEW Fire Station to be built in Windsor!

That could have been a headline in the late 1960s when Windsor Fire Station was about to be constructed in St Marks Road.

Since then, the population of east Berkshire has grown along with commerce and industry. The roads have become busier, the river traffic too. Legoland has arrived, numerous hotels are sprouting up amidst Windsors thriving night life. Victoria Barracks-has been significantly rebuilt along with Combermere Barracks. Visitor numbers are hitting 7 million a year and numerous large, high profile events are held every year.

  Yet the 'Royal' Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service wants to CLOSE down Windsor Fire Station?

so here we go, another survey, didn't the last one cost thousands? i thought we were skint?

In late July the Mayor of Windsor held an Emergency Services Reception at Windsor Guildhall. This was well attended by crews and managers from the ‘Royal’ Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service. The Windsor crew in particular were pleased to be given such recognition from the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead Council.

One particular Brigade manager seemed to enjoy the evening, but subsequently made a bizarre decision on 03 August which would strip Windsor of its fire-cover for a whole afternoon? Because fire cover was ridiculously sparse at Newbury, he sent the Windsor appliance nearly 40 miles away to standby at their fire station.

This decision was even more perplexing because there are THREE Reading Stations an awful lot closer to Newbury, who could have provided alternative cover?
 

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So the roadworks have started on the Windsor relief road - mainly at at night time, just the time when the station is supposed to be closing.. As this is the main route for Slough to get into Windsor, it means residents will have to wait for pumps from Langley or even further - yet another reason why Windsor should stay wholetime.

The word 'authority' is termed in the dictionary as, 'The power or right to give orders or make decisions'.

Who then has ordered the closure of Sonning, Wargrave, Pangbourne and Cookham Fire Stations - certainly not the Royal Berkshire Fire 'Authority' it would seem?

Perhaps the Royal Berkshire Fire Authority should show the Brigade some 'authority ' and order a reversal of the banal plan to close Windsor Fire Station?

my my my
so the fire authroity continues to sharpen its knives after getting a bloody nose over windsor.
Febuary 09 they won that vote and still nothing so wokingham can not be that busy then.
They have turned there attention else where so the next stations on the chopping block Wargrave Pangbourne and Cookham so fire cover in the county is further reduced.
Just remember all this has been done before the end of the RDS review the heritage review and the emergency budget good knows whats going to happen after all thoses are completed
so that leaves the question over Windsor whats going to happen bearing in mind there are major roadworks to be started on the windsor relief road for a year and then theres the 2012 games some of which is happening just a stones throw or row from windsor
the sensible option would be to leave Windsor where it is but then we are talking about a service that spends millions on a control unit which has done just over 40 calls a year and is just about to put a heavy rescue unit on the run which is on request only
If you have the money and need it spent on something give it to the RBFRS
final thought the cost of the control unit would of paid for windsor to have its night crew for two years
oh and remeber Windsor never have fires on there own ground ( sorry primary incidents ) apart from the one a couple of nights ago which had a rescue
sleep well everyone its all under control
   

If anyone knows anyone famous or can contact anyone, please could they do so on behalf of the campaign?
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thanks
Paul

The Assistant Chief Fire Officer recently addressed a Brigade Watch Managers Seminar.

He referred to the possibility of a future Sustainable Communities Act application by the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead Council. If successful, the Royal Borough could seize control of their respective finances from the Royal Berkshire Fire Authority and run their own Fire Authority.

The Assistant Chief raised concerns that if this application was successful, then the other Unitary Authorities may follow suite? (Such as West Berkshire, Reading Borough, Wokingham Borough, Bracknell Forest Borough and Slough Borough)

This would spell the end of the Royal Berkshire Fire Authority.

We say the writing is upon the wall…

with the possibility of the brigade losing all the council tax from the borough if the local government take control, and the fact that wokingham is crewed daytimes and has less shouts than windsor at night, surely now is the time for the brigade to stop wasting everyones time and just leave well alone?