PUBLIC Safety Minister Michael McGimpsey has confirmed Limavady will benefit from a tranche of additional funding that has been made available for the improvement of a select list of Northern Ireland fires stations.
Mr McGimpsey made the confirmation in response to a question from Deputy Mayor and local MLA George Robinson. Mr Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety if Limavady Fire Station will benefit from the additional fund
ing for the Fire and Rescue Service announced on October 16 2008.
The Minister replied: "Yes. I refer the honourable member to the answer I gave to David McClarty during Oral Questions on February 25, 2008 when I indicated that Limavady is on the list of Stations for upgrade. The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service is currently looking for a suitable site in the town for a new station."
In October the Sentinel reported that a brand new fire station will be built in Limavady as soon as a suitable site is found. The town is one of twenty-six throughout the province earmarked for a new station as part of a £164 million investment plan that will take place over the next ten years.
Northern Ireland's Chief Fire Officer, Mr Colin Lammey, then gave assurances to Mr Robinson, that Limavady was very much part of the Fire Service's plans.
And a spokeswoman for the Fire Service told the Sentinel that Limavady was indeed one of twenty-six locations slated for new facilities.
Although she said the £164million investment will take place over a ten year period and that sites where land is already available, such as Newtownstewart, Fintona and Armagh, would take priority.
Unfortunately Limavady does not fall into this category although priority will be given to areas with the greatest need, the spokeswoman said.
The full article contains 307 words and appears in Londonderry Sentinel newspaper.
