Local children took part in steel signing ceremony for pioneering Hebburn tri-station
School children have drawn themselves into their community's future as a new stat-of-the-art emergency service tri-station takes a major step towards completion.
On Wednesday 24 May, a special steel signing ceremony was hosted on the construction site of one of the country's most exclusive eco-friendly emergency service buildings.
The impressive Hebburn tri-station will be keeping the people of the town and neighbouring Jarrow and Monkton Village safe from harm once it opens its doors next year.
In recent weeks the foundations have been laid and the steel structure of the building has been erected in a major step in the project's completion.
And now young people from primary schools across Hebburn have put their own permanent mark on to the steel girders in a special signing ceremony.
The children were picked from Toner Avenue Primary School, St Aloysious Catholic Primary Academy, and Hebburn Lakes Primary School; and they will form a permanent part of the town's history.
The construction is being led by Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS) but will also house crews and staff from Northumbria Police and North East Ambulance Service.
The exciting two-storey multi-functional facility is believed to become the first of its kind anywhere in the country to be completely carbon neutral, while also providing a major new emergency service hub for the area.
Steven Bewick, station manager for Hebburn Community Fire Station, said: "We are so proud of the Hebburn tri-station project and what it will mean to the people of Hebburn, Jarrow, Monkton Village, and residents in the surrounding areas of South Tyneside.
"The way it will house and embrace te day-to-day operations of each blue light organisation, and how the officers will be working alongside each other under the same environmentally friendly roof.
"It was great to welcome the young people on site, as the steel signing was a fun way of representing the community ownership aspect of the building, and how we want people, young and old, to see the Hebburn tri-station as an integral part of the local area."
During the year ahead residents living between Monkton Village, Campbell Park Road and Marine Drive will be able to witness the site's ever changing appearance as the brand-new state-of-the-art eco tr-station starts to appear before their very eyes.
Over the past few weeks, 585 hot rolled steel girders weighing a massive 151 tonnes have been constructed on site, and if they were laid end to end the 2,452 linear metres is the equivalent to the length of 20 football pitches.
The project is being delivered by North East company Esh Construction and the steel framework was installed by Sunderland-based company, Harry Marsh (Engineers) Ltd.
The social value team at Esh Construction have also been in conversation with primary and secondary schools in the viccinity of the Hebburn tri-station.
As part of their contract they will instigate education-based projects over the next 12 months ranging from community safety through to the environment.
A number of the schools will be attending workshops over the summer months at SafetyWorks in Newcastle, where they will have the chance to enjoy practical and theoretical experiences.
Area Commander for South Tyneside and Sunderland, Chief Superintendent Barrie Joisce, of Northumbria Police, said: "It is really exciting to see how the Hebburn tri-station project is coming along - and I am pleased to see the local community getting involved.
"This exciting initiative is another great example of collaboration with other blue light partners in the area - and will allow us to strengthen our working relationships under one roof.
"The steel signing ceremony not only marks a significant step forward in the construction of the building - but also symbolises our commitment to residents living in the surrounding areas and how they are integral to the partnership."
Darren Green, Head of Operations Central Division at North East Ambulance Service, said: "We're delighted to be part of this project, which will make a huge difference to the people of Hebburn and beyond. Being based alongside our blue light colleagues will enable us to strengthen our working relationships and continue to work together.
"It's great for young people from the area to come and see the site, which is going to be an integral part of the local community."
During the steel signing ceremony the young people were accompanied by representatives of Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service, Northumbria Police and North East Ambulance Service - who will all be actively using the tri-station once it's up and running.
The new building is expected to open its doors and start to serve the local community in the Spring of 2024.