Fire station compromise for Windsor

Windsor is set to lose its St Mark's Road fire station for good in favour of a 24-hour fire base somewhere else in town.

Last minute negotiations between the Royal Borough and fire authority mean WIndsor could keep its own 24-hour a day fire engine at a new site provided by the council.

County fire chiefs wanted to shut Windsor fire station at night to save money to finance improvements to the service at Wokingham.

Under the plan presented last night the existing fire station is set to close for good and a smaller fire engine, with a crew of three, will set up shop at an unknown venue.

The Royal Borough says the plan represents a victory in providing a Windsor base with 24-hour fire cover - although it is at the expense of the St Mark's Road fire station.

Campaigners have been battling the plan for night closure for years, claiming that relying on fire engines in Slough and Maidenhead to service Windsor at night could put lives at risk.

The compromise was agreed at last night's Royal Berkshire Fire Authority meeting and will now go to consultation.

Meanwhile Windsor fire station will close at night between 8pm and 8am from Saturday.

The new smaller fire engine should be active by April 1.

See tomorrow's Windsor Express for the full story.