Firefighter training camp to be built in rural Herefordshire (From Hereford Times)

Firefighter training camp to be built in rural Herefordshire

3:20pm Friday 4th May 2012 in News By Lauren Rogers

A firefighting training facility will be built in Kingsland despite concerns it will damage the landscape.

Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service has secured planning permission to build a 12-metre high training tower and a two-storey smoke house to practise rescues from smokelogged behind the small Kingsland Fire Station.

There will also be trench to practice pulling cars and farm animals from ditches and storage sheds on site.

Herefordshire Council backed the plan in spite of fierce opposition from the local parish council and villagers who claimed the development was better suited to Leominster Enterprise Park.

English Heritage had also raised concerns the industrial facility, which could be used by retained firefighters during evenings and weekends, would harm the rural surroundings and impact on ancient Kingsland Castle.

But fire service area commander Jon Pryce said the much-needed facility was “paramount”

to keeping north Herefordshire safe.

It would also be the only training facilities of its kind in Herefordshire.