Police base at Holloway fire station wins backing

Published: 17 September, 2010
by RÓISÍN GADELRAB

FIREFIGHTERS and police are set to move in together after planners approved a two-storey extension at Holloway Fire Station.

The proposal, agreed at Monday’s Town Hall planning committee meeting, would mean four north Islington Safer Neighbourhoods teams (SNTs) would share the fire station site in Hornsey Road, near the Andover estate.

But Police Superintendent John Sutherland has warned that the entire scheme is dependent on finances.

He said nothing was certain until further government budget announcements are made next month.

If the project goes ahead, it is thought it will be the first time police in London will have set up base in a fire station.

Supt Sutherland said: “There are the unavoidable economic realities we’re all facing so every economic cost will have to be reviewed in October. We’re all waiting to see what the government announces. 

“It’s an innovative proposal but it’s still very much at the proposal stage. Our commitment to neighbourhood policing is stronger than it’s ever been.”

He said the arrangement would give police and firefighters more opportunities to work together but that Safer Neighbourhoods duties would come first.

“It’s a combination of every benefit you can ever think of,” he added. “New accommodation would allow us to co-locate four SNTs. It has the potential to save money, for example with shared office functions, phone lines and computer terminals. There’s the opportunity for us to be involved in community engagement collectively with the fire service.”

The extension will be divided into two parts – a single-storey building giving the fire station a bigger gym and changing facilities and a two-storey building housing police officers from Finsbury Park, Tollington, St George’s and Holloway Safer Neighbourhoods teams.

Only two objections were made to the plans and no objectors spoke at Monday’s meeting.

A resident raised fears of noise from the fire station gym when the door was left open.

The second objector was concerned about the noise of police sirens and the finished look of the extension, to be built in red brick to fit in with neighbouring buildings.

Two other Safer Neighbourhoods team hubs, where SNTs share offices, have already opened in Blackstock Road and Goswell Road.