Numbers,just to add to your brief overview of the updated plans for the proposed modifications to Stirling station. As I understand it ,the management commitee after reveiwing a large number of emergency organisations around the world , with mind to the village/community sensitivities of the Stirling area (see Stirling shopping center development behind the hotel) have short listed two facades that would fit in . The first design keeps the original facade in place,that is hooked up to their alerts/pager system ,in an emergency the facade lowers to the ground, allowing immediate access for responding appliances,one outstanding feature of this design is the fire pole ,once the vehicles have left the station,the facade, raises back into place,keeping the village feel of the town as per the request of the community.The design was by an American Bruce Wayne, for an emergency organisation who,s need for discretion was paramount.
The second design, my personal favorite, allows the site to be completely redeveloped by the brigade, with a large two storey residential development,complete with pool, in place of the station. This is a win/win for the service as the tenants would be paying a rent linked to CPI and an income for a ever increasing budget blowout would be generated and the development would definately be accepted by a cynical friends of Stirling action group. This design also is linked into the alerts/pager system, whereby once the "bells" drop , a entrance below the pool is exposed by the sliding of the pool into a covered housing,allowing easy egress for the selected appliances stored in a pod/racking system. Although this design sounds spaceage(Alans domain),it has been in operation in an island off the coast of America or England ,not sure which one ,for some 40 years now and hasn't failed them once. The design by once again an American, Gordon Tracy is edgy but workable, perhaps the only downside is for anyone swimming in the pool when the "bells" drop but Im sure this could be overcome.
Either way it turns out it will be a large step forward for the brigade.
To the Batcave!!! or Thunderbirds are go!!!
![grin :-D](http://www.safirefighter.com/boards/Smileys/default/grin.gif)
Cheers Jaff