‘New quad hub is the future of 999 services in rural areas’

Barnard Castle’s quad hub has welcomed all four of its emergency services. Reporter Alex Metcalfe toured the new facility to find out how the dale’s first responders are settling in.

"COST effective” is one of those phrases you cannot escape today. Whether the much vaunted £3.78million emergency services quad hub in Wilson Street, Barnard Castle, passes this test remains to be seen.
However, it’s safe to say conditions are far and away better for Teesdale’s first responders.
Compared to the old Bede Kirk police station – built circa 1977 – it’s a world away.
Old cell blocks meant heating the whole building was costly and the winding corridors and individual rooms often made the place a bit of a maze.
Not so on Wilson Street.
The state of the art conference room has already hosted a 30-strong Farm Watch operation.
Neighbourhood Inspector Kevin Tuck tells me he is very pleased with the “modern, clean and functional” facility.
He adds: “For me it gives the force the opportunity to release the asset of the old police station – it was a sizeable site with trees and grass which had to be maintained.
“Now we are in a modern, energy efficient building.
“It safeguards neighbourhood policing for the next 50 years.”
And Insp Tuck believes the hub model could offer a framework for other rural forces and services nationwide.
He says: “We think other police forces will look at this model in rural areas. There are other examples of collaborations but we are the first with four agencies. They may come and have a look at this.
“The challenge now might be who can be the first to have five organisations working together.”
Fire services haven’t moved far – a matter of yards from the site of their former station.
But training facilities for one of the country’s best breathing apparatus teams have just got even better.
A specially built three storey tower with adjoined two storey facility comes complete with sliding walls and doors to replicate any number of home layouts where fire strikes.
The hub has room for two fire appliances and the spacious forecourt caters for two ambulances.
There’s a gym, solar panels, computers, washing facilities and a drying room among all the ergonomically designed equipment storage.
There’s no doubting it’s a modern and tidy venue but the quad hub hasn’t been everyone’s cup of tea.
Residents on Wilson Street feared traffic chaos and months of disruption during its construction.
There were also cases of cars being damaged by construction vehicles.
An open day inviting those from Wilson Street, Crook Lane, Dawson Road and Zetland Road was held by the fire service on Saturday to try to stop any ill feeling from stewing.
Alan Potts, operations manager with the North East Ambulance Service, tells me relations have been good and the transition of his team from the ambulance station has been smooth.
“The start is usually when you get the teething problems but actually it’s been the opposite,” he adds.
“It’s really reassuring – I think sometimes it can be thought the rural side of things don’t have these investments.
“This shows all four services are invested so it’s really good.”
District manager Adam Hall, from the Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service, is equally thrilled with the site.
“In terms of the building and the station the facilities are brand new and fantastic,” he says.
“With us all being under one roof, we are able to work more closely together.”
Collaboration is a common theme at the new hub.
Fridges sit side by side in the communal kitchen where all four services can mingle.
Offices sit a matter of feet away from one another and a wealth of mod cons including secure wifi, interactive screens and special conference rooms keep everyone in the loop.
When drama unfolds, it’s this familiarity which comes into its own.
“When we have a road traffic collision we will come together instead of arriving at the incident separately,” says Mr Hall.
“When you are in the same building you know the faces of who you are working with – it creates a better working environment when we can put a face to a name more easily.”
Volunteers and teams from Teesdale and Weardale Search and Mountain Rescue Team provide vital backup and expertise in the tough terrain and dangerous waterways of our dale.
Veteran team leader Steve Owers tells me he’s delighted to be part of the hub.
He says: “It’s ideal for us – it could not be better. It’s all about building relationships.
“We’re especially lucky because we are a voluntary organisation – there is no way we could afford something like this on our own.”
Dale folk will be able to explore the new emergency services hub at an open day in the coming months.
The front desk will be open between 10am and 3pm, Monday to Friday.