A NEW training centre is set to be built at the former Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service headquarters in Winsford.

With training zones to replicate various scenarios including road crashes, industrial zone incidents and rural emergencies, the site at Sadler Road will be brought back into use following its closure last year.

Cheshire Fire has moved its operations to Clemonds Hey – also in Winsford – as part of the ‘Blue Light Collaboration’ merger with Cheshire Police which saw all operations brought together under one roof.

Station manager Andrew Watson said: “The proposed New Training Centre at Sadler Road, Winsford, will include a number of realistic and immersive themed training zones which will deliver a range of training scenarios.

“This will enable the firefighters of Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service to develop and maintain their levels of competence in dealing with any incidents which they may be required to respond to in Cheshire.

“The themed training zones will include a number of house fire scenarios in an urban zone, and a rural zone for dealing with farm related incidents.

“A new breathing apparatus training facility which includes a number of varying scenarios from high rise to basement fires.

“An industrial zone with a realistic, immersive hazardous training rig [will be included] and also a road traffic collision zone.”

It had initially been hoped that training operations could also be moved to Clemonds Hey, but the decision was reversed in 2016.

Mark Cashin, Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service’s deputy chief fire officer, said at the time: “The Blue Light Collaboration programme, which was approved by Cheshire Fire Authority and the Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioner in 2015, is ongoing and will still involve a move to a single joint headquarters and the merging of a number of support functions from both organisations.

“Originally, the plan was to also to move all operational training from fire’s current headquarters to the new joint facility. However, following an in-depth review and costing exercise, the fire authority has agreed that training should continue to be delivered from its current location.

“Also in a bid to ensure that our crews get the very best training possible to keep them and our communities safe, they also agreed that the current facilities could be significantly refurbished."