Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service's new safety education centre in Lymm is up and running and already making an impact in helping people to stay safe at home and in their local communities, as Macclesfield MP, David Rutley, saw for himself on a recent visit.
David met with Gus O’Rourke, Assistant Chief Fire Officer, and Mark Shone, Centre Manager, and was given a tour of ‘Safety Central’, which is housed in a striking circular building. David was particularly impressed by the Centre's four realistic learning zones that simulate the hazards in environments in which injury and harm are most likely to occur. These include: the home; a busy urban streetscape complete with road, pelican crossing, railway line and substation; and the countryside, featuring rivers, forests and rural roads.
Safety Central is Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service's first-ever purpose-built facility dedicated to public safety. It shares a single, integrated building with the new fire station for the area, helping to better educate visitors about how to stay safe, well and independent, whilst also offering a glimpse inside a working fire station and an exciting opportunity to learn about the role of a modern firefighter.
Safety Central offers programmes to groups most at risk of avoidable harm including new parents of under fives, guardians and carers, and pupils at Key Stages 1, 2 and 3. Community groups or schools interested in organising a visit to the Centre can contact it by email at safetycentral@cheshirefire.gov.uk or by telephone on 01606 868 643.
Speaking after his visit, David said, "The facilities at Safety Central are very impressive and a real asset to Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service's ongoing and well-established safety education work. It was a pleasure to visit the Centre and experience the facilities for myself. I would encourage any local groups or schools interested in visiting the Centre to get in touch with Gus, Mark and the team, to take this forward."