Fire training centre plan on hold

A £16m redevelopment at the headquarters of Essex Fire Service has been postponed over financial concerns.

The Essex Fire Authority agreed to put on hold indefinitely plans for a training centre at Kelvedon Park.

Chief fire officer David Johnson said the "timing is not right" and it would not be "prudent" to begin work in the current economic climate.

"The service, like other public sector organisations, faces unprecedented pressure on finances," he added.

The decision means that plans to relocate 100 staff from the former headquarters in Hutton to Kelvedon Park will be brought forward.

The workers were not due to move until 2011 but consultation will begin immediately with a view to them moving early next year.

'Work not wasted'

The fire service said it would then be able to sell the Hutton site.

Mr Johnson added: "The timing of the decision has been taken before the programme reaches a point where an external design team is appointed and tenders are to be put out, both of which commit the organisation to major spend.

"It remains our aspiration to eventually build a state-of-the-art training facility in line with being one of the UK's best fire and rescue services, but the timing is not right now.

"The significant work and effort that has already been invested in this programme will not be wasted."

At a meeting in February, the Essex Fire Authority heard the project would progress with a "careful eye" on the financial climate.