Work has started on a new fire station in Rastrick.
Contractors have begun preparatory work on the site at the junction of Clough Lane and Slade Lane, and will begin the construction itself on May 12.
The build is expected to last for almost a year, with the station due to open in April 2015. The new base will replace the stations in Brighouse and Elland, which will close.
The Rastrick station, which is sited close to the M62, is one of several planned by the West Yorkshire brigade.
Rastrick residents had objected to the plans but the proposals were backed by Calderdale Council.
Among objections were the fact that the chosen site was a greenfield one and there were other suitable sites close by.
But councillors were told that experts had looked at various sites none of which satisfied the needs of the fire service or were available.
A spokesman said: “The fire service is accustomed to operating in residential areas and operates sympathetically to noise concerns.”
The new fire station will have one main fire engine, a back up appliance and the water rescue boat. There would be bedroom facilities for eight and training facilities as well as rooms suitable for use by community groups.
Access for the fire engines will be via the rear as official requirements insist they must drive out of the station from the front.
Calderdale fire officer Andrew Crowther said: “The new station will be staffed by a crew of five firefighters 24 hours a day. Staff will be selected from the former Elland and Brighouse stations, keeping a high level of local knowledge of Rastrick.
“The crew are also one of West Yorkshire’s specialist water rescue and flood response teams.”
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