This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/the-northerner/2012/oct/09/firefighters-localgovernment
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| The fight is on to save Gipton fire station - a 1930s gem in east Leeds | The fight is on to save Gipton fire station - a 1930s gem in east Leeds |
| (10 days later) | |
| Gipton fire station in East Leeds has just celebrated her 75th birthday as the oldest operational fire station in West Yorkshire. But for how much longer? | Gipton fire station in East Leeds has just celebrated her 75th birthday as the oldest operational fire station in West Yorkshire. But for how much longer? |
| The West Yorkshire fire and rescue service is closing the station down - one of ten in the county going as an a economy measure - and putting her on the market. | The West Yorkshire fire and rescue service is closing the station down - one of ten in the county going as an a economy measure - and putting her on the market. |
| Not so fast. A group of local people have come up with something that just might put a halt to these plans to close the grand old lady of the York Road down. | Not so fast. A group of local people have come up with something that just might put a halt to these plans to close the grand old lady of the York Road down. |
| Local Leeds activists including Sam Hirst, retired Gipton firefighter Andy Killingbeck, Fire Brigades Union secretary David Williams and myself have been working since January on a plan we hope will keep the beautiful 1930s building from the clutches of developers and the threat of demolition. | Local Leeds activists including Sam Hirst, retired Gipton firefighter Andy Killingbeck, Fire Brigades Union secretary David Williams and myself have been working since January on a plan we hope will keep the beautiful 1930s building from the clutches of developers and the threat of demolition. |
| At a weekend birthday party to which many old and serving 'Gipton Commandos' were invited, we presented a cake in the shape of the station to local commander Nigel Kirk - along with the good news that an application has been made to have the station listed. Sadly the event was not opened to the public and media, including the many local people who would have loved a look inside, but there was good crowd around. | At a weekend birthday party to which many old and serving 'Gipton Commandos' were invited, we presented a cake in the shape of the station to local commander Nigel Kirk - along with the good news that an application has been made to have the station listed. Sadly the event was not opened to the public and media, including the many local people who would have loved a look inside, but there was good crowd around. |
| Gipton opened in 1937 to provide cover for the large housing estates that were being built in East Leeds by the famous pioneering socialist councillor Rev. Charles Jenkinson. She still serves some of the most at-risk people and deprived areas of the city, but the service has decided to move operations further away to try to save money. Our group thinks that this decision is deplorable and risks an increase in the number of tragedies involving fire. | Gipton opened in 1937 to provide cover for the large housing estates that were being built in East Leeds by the famous pioneering socialist councillor Rev. Charles Jenkinson. She still serves some of the most at-risk people and deprived areas of the city, but the service has decided to move operations further away to try to save money. Our group thinks that this decision is deplorable and risks an increase in the number of tragedies involving fire. |
| Applying to English Heritage have the station listed will at least prevent it from being demolished or unsympathetically changed. David Williams of the FBU says: | Applying to English Heritage have the station listed will at least prevent it from being demolished or unsympathetically changed. David Williams of the FBU says: |
| To reach 75 operational years is a momentous occasion. The station being listed would be a fitting tribute and will ensure the building will be left for the people of East Leeds and not just the few. It will be a lasting memorial for all those who have worked in the fire and rescue service. | To reach 75 operational years is a momentous occasion. The station being listed would be a fitting tribute and will ensure the building will be left for the people of East Leeds and not just the few. It will be a lasting memorial for all those who have worked in the fire and rescue service. |
| East Leeds-born amateur photographer Sam Hirst has taken some stunning shots of the interior which the group hope will demonstrate to English Heritage that she should be preserved. Sam also worries that the station may end up like the Former Library on York Road and be vandalised beyond repair. He says: | East Leeds-born amateur photographer Sam Hirst has taken some stunning shots of the interior which the group hope will demonstrate to English Heritage that she should be preserved. Sam also worries that the station may end up like the Former Library on York Road and be vandalised beyond repair. He says: |
| In London the fire and rescue service actually work with English Heritage and where possible keep stations operational even with a grade 2 listing. Gipton's functional industrial art deco interior is the last in West Yorkshire and we hope WYFRS see sense and support the application we have made to English Heritage. | In London the fire and rescue service actually work with English Heritage and where possible keep stations operational even with a grade 2 listing. Gipton's functional industrial art deco interior is the last in West Yorkshire and we hope WYFRS see sense and support the application we have made to English Heritage. |
| It has been quite an adventure researching the building, Andy and I have spent many hours sat in the library reading watch committee reports from the 1930's and in the West Yorkshire Archives looking at old tender documents from that era. She was designed by the then Civic Architect Frank Broadbent, the son of a shoe-cutter from Armley who also built the original Roundhay and Lawnswood high schools. He used classic Leeds red brick with Portland stonework and tiles from the Leeds Fire Clay Company, the successor to the famous Burmantofts faience firm. | It has been quite an adventure researching the building, Andy and I have spent many hours sat in the library reading watch committee reports from the 1930's and in the West Yorkshire Archives looking at old tender documents from that era. She was designed by the then Civic Architect Frank Broadbent, the son of a shoe-cutter from Armley who also built the original Roundhay and Lawnswood high schools. He used classic Leeds red brick with Portland stonework and tiles from the Leeds Fire Clay Company, the successor to the famous Burmantofts faience firm. |
| Architectural value apart, the National Audit Office has designated Gipton a very high risk – low cost station and in these times of austerity it seems foolish and short sighted not to consider keeping Gipton open, renovated and fully operational. | Architectural value apart, the National Audit Office has designated Gipton a very high risk – low cost station and in these times of austerity it seems foolish and short sighted not to consider keeping Gipton open, renovated and fully operational. |
| Andy Killingbeck from Seacroft who served at Gipton for many years says: | Andy Killingbeck from Seacroft who served at Gipton for many years says: |
| It can be clearly demonstrated that the areas of very high risk of fire are nearest to Gipton fire station – why build a new station further away that will cost more to build than it would to revitalise this jewel in the crown of the West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service | It can be clearly demonstrated that the areas of very high risk of fire are nearest to Gipton fire station – why build a new station further away that will cost more to build than it would to revitalise this jewel in the crown of the West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service |
| Since deciding on our alternative plan to keep Gipton operational, the campaign group has learned many interesting facts about the building. One of them is a covenant dating from 1914 that prevents the sale of alcohol on the premises. How does this tally with the current fully functioning bar..? | Since deciding on our alternative plan to keep Gipton operational, the campaign group has learned many interesting facts about the building. One of them is a covenant dating from 1914 that prevents the sale of alcohol on the premises. How does this tally with the current fully functioning bar..? |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. |