A SLICE of a £22 million fund will be spent in a west Suffolk town to overhaul an aging fire station.Plans for a new fire station in Clare, near Sudbury, have been lodged with Babergh District Council and residents have now been urged to make their views known.

A SLICE of a £22 million fund will be spent in a west Suffolk town to overhaul an ageing fire station.

Plans for a new fire station in Clare, near Sudbury, have been lodged with Babergh District Council and residents have now been urged to make their views known.

The scheme put forward by fire chiefs includes the complete demolition of the existing headquarters in Station Road.

Those behind the project want to replace the base with a new station and training tower for the retained crew.

It is part of a countywide refurbishment programme of fire stations set to cost £22 million.

Clare parish councillor June Smith said: “I am sure everybody will be pleased with any improvements made to the fire station and we certainly wouldn't want to lose our crew as they do a fantastic job. The station is a little rundown and needs some improvement so this is great news.”

Under a Private Finance Initiative (PFI), which would see businesses own the land and lease it out to Suffolk Fire Service, new station would also be built or existing ones rebuilt in Lowestoft, Ipswich, Hadleigh, Needham Market and Nayland.

Suffolk County Council has submitted plans to St Edmundsbury Borough Council and the application is now open to consultation before a decision is made.

Joanna Spicer, Suffolk County Council's portfolio holder for public protection, said: “These applications affect anyone who lives and works in the county and I'd urge everyone to check out the plans and give their views. It is vital that people let us know what they think of the stations during this consultation period.”

dave.gooderham@eadt.co.uk