Hebweb news 2006: Fire station to become homes and shops

Fire station to become homes and shops

Tuesday, 28 November 2006

The fire station has been sold and the planning application is expected soon.

Hebweb Forum rumours that a major supermarket had bought the Valley Road-site have been dismissed by the current owners, the West Yorkshire Fire Authority.

A spokesman said: "There is a purchaser interested and the sale is going through. It is not a major company and the sale is being handled by a local agent.

"The purchase will take place soon and I expect a planning application to be submitted. It will be a residential development with some small retail units very much in keeping with Hebden Bridge."

Estate agents Walker Singleton, of Halifax, are handling the sale.

Paul Diakiw, for the company, said: "It has not been sold to Tesco or Marks & Spencer.

"The proposal is a mixed retail-and-residential scheme. I expect the sale to be complete in a couple of months."

The station was closed in April after six firefighters resigned. The axe was due to fall on Mytholmroyd station but the authority switched their plans after the mass walk-out.

In January four Hebden Bridge firefighters quit after being suspended for allegedly turning out with only three men on their engine, when the legal minimum is four. Another two resigned weeks later.

The change of heart by the fire authority meant redundancy notices for 11 retained firefighters at Mytholmroyd were withdrawn.