Newcastle Alliance Councillor Patrick Clarke has held a site meeting at the former Newcastle College site at Donard Street in Newcastle with the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service.

The meeting was requested by Newcastle Alliance Councillor Patrick Clarke. During the meeting it was officially confirmed to Newcastle Councillor Patrick Clarke by the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service that the present Newcastle Fire Station at Valentia Place is in urgent need of replacement.

Newcastle Alliance Councillor Patrick Clarke stated: "I requested a site meeting with the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service to investigate the possibility of purchasing the former Newcastle College site at Donard Street in Newcastle as a possible new location for a replacement fire station.

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"The present fire station in Newcastle situated along Valentia Place is in urgent need of replacement which was officially confirmed to me by Sean Fitzsimons, Capital Projects Officer of the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service.

"I believe the former Newcastle College site would be an ideal location for a replacement fire station in Newcastle and I was very pleased with the positive feedback I received from the site meeting.

"During the site meeting I was given confirmation from the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service official that the former Newcastle College had excellent potential for a replacement Fire Station in Newcastle.

"It was further confirmed to me that a proposal would be made to the operations department of the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service to consider making a viable case for purchasing the former Newcastle College site.

"Whilst my request to secure a replacement fire station in Newcastle is in the very early stages I believe that the former Newcastle College site would be able to provide both Newcastle and the wider geographical area with an excellent facility.

"I have therefore requested that the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service give very real and serious consideration to the potential of the site I have asked, due to the location and the lack of other suitable sites in Newcastle to replace Newcastle Fire Station."

(CD)