Llandrindod | 17 Feb 2012
Members and senior officers of Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service´s Fire Authority paid a visit to the site of the new Powys command building at Llandrindod this week.
This is the first fire station built by Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue service to ensure value for money and an efficient use of space, incorporating a divisional police station for Dyfed Powys and a multi disciplinary magistrates court facility for Her Majesty´s Court Service. Mid and West Wales Powys command will also be accommodated within the first floor area of the building.
Jonathan Evans, Head of Powys County Command said: “A multi disciplinary building such as this will further improve efficiencies in the county of Powys. Shared areas have been included within the facility which will be utilised for conference, training and meetings by both our service and Dyfed Powys Police.”
Various energy efficient devices have been adopted, such as light and movement sensors; a building management system has also been included to monitor the efficiency of the building; as well as a Combined Heat and Power system which converts thermal energy into electrical energy and provides up to 5.5KW of self generated electricity.
To minimise excessive water run off and encourage the area´s bio-diversity, a sedum roof has been installed. Local wild-life has been further encouraged by the construction of a hibernaculum, which provides shelter for small mammals. Bird and bat boxes have been located around the grounds and access for native amphibians provided along the existing water course at the site entrance.
Richard Davies, Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service Head of Estates, said: “The building was designed with a timber clad facade and in time the colour of the larch will grey and the impact of the landscape will evolve as the surrounding planted areas matures. It sits in and not on the existing topography, following the contours of the land, which minimises its impact on the eye.”
Jonathan Evans said: “We are very proud that such a resourceful building has been designed for us here in Powys. Its first class environmental specification, energy saving and shared facilities initiatives will be a valuable resource to the county of Powys”.
Vital Signs:
- The Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service serves the following six constituent authority areas – Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion, Swansea, Powys and Neath Port Talbot.
- The Service covers some 4,500 square miles and makes-up almost two thirds of the landmass of Wales.
- A wide variety of risks are found within the operational area ranging from the petro-chemical industries in Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire and Briton Ferry, Neath, to the risks associated with heavily populated areas such as Swansea, Port Talbot and Llanelli.
- There is an extensive farming community and many other light industries throughout the area.
- These, together with an extensive coastline and inland waterways are some of the specialised risks within the Mid and West Wales region.
