Barry Emergency Services Station unveiled

The Barry Emergency Services Station has been more than two years in the planning and sees the spacious Barry Fire Station transformed into a collaborative home for both Services.

Championed by South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, and adapted during a 41 week build project, the Station is the latest venue operated by the Service which supports emergency services working alongside each other.

Joint emergency services already operate from Maesteg, Pontyclun, Barry, Caerphilly, Abertillery, Whitchurch, Roath and Ely with joint venues planned for Llantwit Major, Monmouth, Abergavenny and Cowbridge over the next few years. The Llantwit Major venue will also be the first of South Wales Fire and Rescue Service’s venues to host four services in one building – Fire Service, Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust, South Wales Police and the Coastguard.

As one of the biggest Stations across the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service area, Barry boasts excellent road links and maintained emergency service provision as normal despite the extensive works. Ambulance Service colleagues moved in earlier in the year and the Station became fully functional for both on July 1st.

Assistant Chief Fire Officer for South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, Andrew Thomas, said: “Barry is one of our biggest stations across the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service area and is in a great location in terms of road links.

As well as providing financial savings for both South Wales Fire and Rescue Service and for the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust, working together collaboratively within one Station supports the building of excellent working relationships with our emergency service colleagues and creates joint training opportunities for us all.

We are delighted to welcome our Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust colleagues to Barry and proud to see this great project come to fruition.”

Chris Turley, Director of Finance (Interim) at the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust said:

“We’re delighted to be able to share this facility with our emergency services partner, South Wales Fire and Rescue Service. This combined facility here at Barry will enable us to work more closely for the benefit of the communities we serve as well as achieving some operational efficiencies.”