A CHATTERIS firm has won the contract to build a new �1million fire station in Cambridgeshire.

M.A.R.S. (Construction) Ltd has been awarded the contract by Cambs Fire and Rescue Service after a robust procurement process and could start work in Cambourne later this month.

The site will be formally handed to the company on Monday September 6 and work could begin as early as the following week.

Mark Pettitt, Senior Director for M.A.R.S. (Construction) Ltd, said: “We are delighted to have secured this project and to be working with Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service to deliver this valuable and strategically important facility.”

Graham Stagg, Chief Fire Officer for Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “This is the first fire station to be built in Cambridgeshire since 1987 and we are delighted that the contract has been given to a local firm.”

The new community fire station will be located on land to the south of Back Lane in Cambourne and is expected to be completed in April next year.

The fire service was allocated the land as part of a Section 106 agreement between Cambridgeshire County Council and MCA Developments in 1994. It was given the site free of charge and also received a total of �558,000 towards building the cost of a new fire station. The total cost of the build is envisaged to be �1,052,000.

The station will primarily be used as a base for the South Cambs district team, but it will also be used as a community facility with meeting space for local residents and groups.

It has also been strategically positioned as the Service has identified Cambourne as a growing community and one that will pose an increasing risk, and therefore require its own operational fire station and fire engine, in the future.

When the risk in Cambourne exceeds the risk in nearby Papworth, the fire service will look to move its fire engine to Cambourne. This may happen sooner should the proposed relocation of Papworth Hospital go ahead.

Mr Stagg said: “We know that we will need a fully operational fire station at the site in the future and we will never again get an opportunity to build this station at a cost to taxpayers of just over �500,000. This will be financed from our existing money from this year’s budget.

“It is better to have the station in place now at low cost to the taxpayer, than to have to pay a vastly inflated price for the same facility in the future - especially as we can utilise the building now as part of our wider role in the community.”

For further information about Cambourne Community Fire Station and Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service, including its community safety and fire prevention work, visit www.cambsfire.gov.uk