Work on new fire station in Urlingford to begin this year as design contract is signed
THE construction of the new fire station in Urlingford will begin this year, Kilkenny County Council has confirmed.
The contract for the design team for the new fire station for Urlingford was officially signed by Council CEO Colette Byrne and Martin Peters, of Martin Peter and Associates Consulting Engineers yesterday.
The Cathaoirleach of Kilkenny County Council, Cllr Eamon Alyward, and elected members of the Castlecomer Municipal District were also present for ther occasion.
The old fire station in Urlingford has been in operation since the early 1970s and badly needs to be replaced to meet the demands of a modern fire and rescue service.
The proposed new site is adjacent to Urlingford Garda station in the town centre. The new design will incorporate a two-bay station with a training yard, lecture room, canteen and staff facilities. Specific training installations will include a drill tower, an underground water tank and breathing apparatus compressor room.
Cllr Alyward said: “Kilkenny County Council continues to invest in the Fire Service in upgrading and developing the facilities and equipment of Kilkenny Fire and Rescue Service. Over the last number of years we have provided new fire stations in Graiguenamanagh and Castlecomer and we have also recently provided two sets of structural firefighting clothing to all fire personnel at a cost of just under €180,000.”
The Cathaoirleach of Castlecomer Municipal District, Cllr Michael McCarthy, added: “This is a very positive step in the delivery of the fire services in north west Kilkenny and will be well received by the fire fighters and communities of the Urlingford area. He added that it will strengthen the delivery of the fire service into the future.”
Kilkenny County Council Director of Services Mary J Mulholland said construction on the new fire station would commence on site in 2019.
PICTURE CAPTION: LtoR: Cllr Pat Millea, Cllr Michael McCarthy, Cllr Pat Fitzpatrick, Chief Fire Officer, John Collins, Cllr Maurice Shortall.
Front Row: LtoR: Cllr Mary Hilda Cavanagh, Chief Executive Colette Byrne, Cathaoirleach Cllr Eamon Aylward, Martin Peter, Cllr John Brennan.
