Long-term plans to merge two fire stations in Bridgend county now look unlikely to take place.
The South Wales Fire and Rescue Authority had been planning to merge Porthcawl and Kenfig Hill fire and rescue stations, and build a new station in the South Cornelly area with crews relocating to the new site.
The fire service had hoped to pay for the new station by selling its “prime waterfront land” currently occupied by the Porthcawl station, as well selling Kenfig Hill station.
Schools in Bridgend are planning to shut 45 minutes earlier and people are furious
But in a report which goes before a fire authority meeting on Monday, April 29, officers said they had been unable to find a suitable site in and around South Cornelly despite looking since 2015.
The report stated: “Although one site was identified, there was considerable competition from the residential sector for the site.
“To date, no suitable site has been identified and there are limited opportunities in the area, however the service will investigate the possibility of any suitable sites they are made aware of in the future.”
Fire officers are now keen to explore the possibility of a combined emergency service station involving South Wales Police and the Welsh Ambulance Service Trust in the Porthcawl area, potentially on the town’s existing fire station site.
The still-smoking, blackened remains of a grass fire that ripped through a Bridgend hillside
In Porthcawl, the ambulance station is next to the fire station in Eastern Promenade.
On Monday, fire authority members will be asked to agree that the merger of Porthcawl and Kenfig Hill stations is no longer a current priority, and approve recommendations which would allow officers to look at the potential for a combined site with the police and ambulance service.
