A CENTRE to educate people about the dangers of electricity is to be created within the new fire station under construction at Lymm.
The facility – Safety Central – will be built through a partnership between Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service and SP Energy Networks.
It will be used to educate people in Warrington, Cheshire and Halton about the dangers of electricity.
Next month, SP Energy Networks will begin installation work on the power safety “scenario” within the centre’s “indoor village”.
It will include an overhead power line display showing the dangers of low or fallen electric power lines as well as a life-size electricity substation that will highlight the dangers of entering a substation and the risks presented to the public when thieves target industrial electrical equipment.
In addition, SP Energy Networks will become a headline sponsor of Safety Central’s volunteer ranger scheme as part of a £10,000 donation to fund volunteer recruitment, training, uniforms and resources.
The rangers will guide people of all ages around the new centre, engaging visitors in a ground-breaking, interactive experience aimed at keeping them safer.
Stephen Stewart, director at SP Energy Networks, said: “We are delighted to be working with Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service as it embarks on this very exciting project.
“Safety Central will provide a fantastic opportunity for SP Energy Networks to engage with young and vulnerable people in the region and teach them about the risks around electricity.
“In the last year, there were 212 safety incidents in our Cheshire and Wirral districts and we believe with better education and awareness we can reduce future incidents and ensure our communities are safer. We’re really looking forward to working with all the volunteer rangers and of course, the grand opening of the new Safety Centre in September.”
Safety Central is part of a £4 million investment by Cheshire Fire Authority in community safety. The striking circular building, which is located opposite Lymm Services on the A50, features four interactive hi-tech learning zones, designed to simulate the most common avoidable harms in the community. The centre’s free education programmes have been designed to help those most at risk recognise dangers and gain the skills and knowledge to stay safe, well and independent.
It will open its doors this September and more than 3,300 young people are already booked to visit.
Deputy Chief Fire Officer Mark Cashin said: “We’re aiming for Safety Central to be the best facility of its kind in the UK and the support of organisations like SP Energy Networks is vital in giving our educational scenarios relevance and credibility. We’re hugely grateful to SP Energy Networks for providing equipment, resource and time to bring our centre to life, as well as helping us get our volunteer ranger programme up and running during our exciting first year of operation.
“This is a ground-breaking partnership and we look forward to working together for years to come to help keep our communities safer.”
Pictured (left to right): Safety Central manager Mark Shone, deputy chief fire officer Mark Cashin, director of SP Energy Networks Stephen Stewart and head of health and safety for SP Energy Networks Wilma Kelly.
