State Member for Wallsend, Ms Sonia Hornery MP, has called on the Minister for Emergency Services to keep the old Wallsend Fire Station in public hands after it was recently announced it would be sold.
The Fire Station was recently vacated after the Wallsend 484 crew moved into brand new premises at Summerhill Drive, Wallsend.
A number of community groups have come forward to register an interest in using the old building and restoring it as a project.
Ms Hornery has written to the Minister asking for the old Wallsend Fire Station to remain in public hands.
Quotes attributable to Member for Wallsend, Sonia Hornery
“The old Wallsend Fire Station in Devon Street has been a part of the Wallsend landscape for more than 90 years.”
“It’s often used as a local reference point, even the local pub is named after it”
“Many in the community have been asking me what will become of the old site now that the Wallsend 484 crew have moved into their brand new state of the art Station.”
“There have been some approaches from community groups about repurposing and restoring the old site to its for glory.”
“I have written to the Minister for Emergency Services and asked him to consider not selling it off to a developer and instead consult with the community about what it would like to see.”
“Now would be a great time for the Government to show it actually cares about what the community wants and listen. They certainly haven’t listened on a number of other major issues of late so this would be a nice gesture to the people of Wallsend.”
“I am calling on the Minister to keep this historical part of Wallsend in public hands.”