AN idea to locate all local emergency services in any future replacement Keighley Fire Station building has been backed by the town’s mayor.

Councillor Fulzar Ahmed said, in principle, he supports the suggestion, made by town councillor Michael Westerman following news that the fire service is looking to renovate or replace the existing fire station in Bradford Road.

Cllr Ahmed said: “I think it would be ideal to have all these emergency services in one place, especially as the fire station is in such a central location.

“Where the police station is at the moment is very out-of-the-way, and having police closer to the town centre would help reassure people and act as a deterrent to criminals.

“As to whether the idea is practical and feasible is another matter, but I believe it’s worth exploring further.”

Last week, West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service confirmed it would investigate whether the 54-year-old Keighley Fire Station should be extensively refurbished or knocked down and replaced.

Fire service bosses stressed their investment plans for Keighley would not affect the service’s other nearby fire stations in Silsden, Ilkley and Bingley, noting these bases had money allocated to them and were not subject to review.

But Craven councillor Adrian Naylor said he is still concerned about the longer-term implications of any major expenditure on Keighley.

He said: “While they do say they have no plans now for Silsden or other outlying stations, if and when Keighley’s station is revamped will they then review their outlying fire stations? That’s the question in my mind.

“I don’t want this to be a situation where they eventually decide to close stations to balance their books and to make the economic case for having a new station in Keighley.

“The communities of Silsden and Steeton are likely to increase by over 50 per cent over the next few years due to the number of new homes being developed.

“We should be ensuring what services we have in these places are protected and, if necessary, expanded, not lost.”

Responding to the suggestion that the police might consider relocating to a potential new , larger Keighley Fire Station, Mark Burns-Williamson, West Yorkshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, said: “Efforts remain ongoing to identify a site for a police station in the centre of Keighley that is fit for purpose, provides value for money and delivers more visible policing for our communities.

“As part of this process, all potential options are being explored in consultation with our partners, ensuring we arrive at the right outcome for those who live and work in the town.”

* Last Friday (Sept 21) West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority approved a 12-week period of consultation to gather public opinion about how the service operates, and what is most important to taxpayers.

The consultation will inform the service’s three-year forward plan, which sets out its priorities, finances and resourcing and how it manages the level of risk people face from fire and other emergencies.

The service has drawn up a document to give people an overview of what its work involves. This can be viewed at westyorksfire.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/WYFRS-Your-Fire-and-Rescue-Service-2019-22-Low-Res.pdf

Chairman of the Fire and Rescue Authority, Cllr Judith Hughes said: “We’re proud of what we offer the people of West Yorkshire, and proud that we’ve driven down incidents substantially over recent decades through dedicated prevention work.

“Now we must look to the future and continue to be strategic and innovative in the ways we work, so we can keep delivering the high quality service West Yorkshire expects.”

Chief fire officer John Roberts said: “We plan carefully to meet the changing needs of our society and our ambition remains the same as ever, to ‘Make West Yorkshire Safer’.

“The modern Fire and Rescue Service is not just about responding to fires or emergencies and we hope the document we’ve produced will give people an insight into how we operate.”

People wanting to give their views can do so by e-mailing consultation@westyorksfire.gov.uk visiting westyorksfire.gov.uk or writing to: West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, Oakroyd Hall, Bradford Road, Birkenshaw, West Yorkshire BD11 2DY.