Community to benefit from multi-million pound fire station revamp

A FIRE station in West Yorkshire is to be sold and tranformed into a community centre.

Gipton fire station in Leeds was earmarked for closure in 2011 when West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue announced cost-cutting measures.

Zest Health for Life, Gipton Supported Independent Living, and St Vincent’s will all use the building.

The new centre will be given money from the legacy of Yorkshire businessman and philanthropist, Jimi Heselden, founder of Hesco Bastion, who died in 2011.

Assuming the project gains approval, Heselden’s family have pledged funds from Jimbo’s Fund to support the community centre.

Gipton and Stanks fire stations will be replaced with a new building at Killingbeck.

Chief fire officer Simon Pilling said: “The sale of Gipton Fire Station together with the purchase of the Killingbeck site marks a significant milestone towards achieving the strategic review of emergency response provision in the area, across Leeds district and as part of the county wide programme of fire service restructure. Gipton Fire Station has operated for nearly 80 years and therefore it is so very pleasing that residents will be able to continue to use and enjoy the facilities and services of the new community centre.”

Leeds Community Foundation chief executive Sally-Anne Greenfield added: “We were delighted to have been approached by three locally-based and respected groups in East Leeds about the possibility of supporting their plans to transform the fire station.”