MORE than £300,000 will be spent in the next 12 months to make Bridgwater fire station a better place to work.

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service manages more than 80 fire stations across the two counties (including Plymouth and Torbay) and regularly carries out refurbishment or improvement.

As part of its budget for the next 12 months, the fire authority has allocated the six-figure sum to reconfigure the existing Bridgwater station on Salmon Parade to create better welfare facilities for its firefighters.

The work is expected to commence later in the year, pending the formal approval of the annual budget on February 19.

Notice of the upgrade was given as part of a report to the fire authority’s resources committee, which met virtually on Wednesday morning (February 10).

Dan Farthing, the fire authority’s estates property manager, confirmed that a total of £307,000 had been allocated within the council’s capital programme for this project.

He said: “Bridgwater fire station is to undergo a scheme of internal reconfiguration and refurbishment works to create self-contained rest rooms and gender-neutral welfare facilities.

“The works will enhance workplace dignity and provide an inclusive, safe, clean and healthy environment for all our staff.

“These improvements will begin in later in the year and are due to complete in the spring of 2022. The work has been carefully phased to maintain continuity of service.

“Station representatives have been involved in the stakeholder consultation process and planning permission has been obtained to create new window openings, ensuring each rest room has natural light and ventilation.”

Sedgemoor District Council granted the fire service planning permission in November 2019 to add an additional window on the south side of the station.

Among the other upgrades planned for the coming 12 months are £300,000 for replacing the roof of Torquay station and a £2.10M revamp of the Camels Head station in Plymouth.

These proposals will come before the fire authority for final approval at the budget-setting meeting on February 19 at 10am.