RESPONSE times to SOS calls could be improved when a new fire station is built in Bamber Bridge near Preston.

Fire chiefs reckon at the moment they are not reaching some parts of the area quickly enough.

But as councillors gave approval for the building they say they are delighted the service can now be improved.

Chief Fire Officer Gordon Russel said: "We've not been meeting fire standards in terms of attendance times for areas of Bamber Bridge and Walton Summit.

"The question was how could we overcome these problems. Now we're delighted to have the opportunity to be able to improve the service."

The new, permanently manned station, on Cuerden Way, will open next April, and the old station on Brownedge Lane will be sold.

South Ribble's Chair of Development Services Councillor Tom Hanson said the new station would have a great impact on the area.

He said: "It will greatly improve the response time. At the end of the day it's lives that have got to be saved."

Firefighters currently responding to emergencies face long delays in places such as Brownedge Lane, London Road and the railway line on Station Road.

But fears that access out of Cuerden Way would be just as bad were rejected by the fire service.

Mr Russell said: "If there were traffic difficulties there are technical solutions such as controlling the traffic lights.

"There's going to be much, much better access to the whole of Bamber Bridge and South Ribble."

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