future is red hot future! A MULTI-MILLION pound revamp will turn Leigh's state-of-the-art fire station into a regional flagship.

Plans are at an advanced stage for a major scheme to develop the station, providing new driving school facilities, vehicle maintenance workshops, stores and a breathing apparatus base in a £2m revamp.

Councillor Fred Walker, head of Greater Manchester Fire Authority, has revealed his hopes that a start will be made on the developments within the next few months of the schemes, which are part of the Brigade Action Plan for this year.

The new-look station would involve the closure of county fire service workshops at Ellenbrook and the transfer of the BA equipment base from Bury to Leigh.

The likelihood is that the vehicle workshop operation would be centralised at Leigh with equipment from Cheshire and Merseyside being serviced and repaired there.

Cllr Walker, from Atherton, said: "This would be the biggest thing we have done outside building a new station. We would like to get started on it within the next few months.

"Part of the deal hinges on the workshop site alongside Bridgewater Road at Ellenbrook being of use to housing developers.

"It will cost £1m to update the rundown building at Ellenbrook and it is something we would have to do.

"If we sell the Ellenbrook site, the money will be put towards the cost of new developments at Leigh. The likelihood is that Leigh would become central workshops for Cheshire and Merseyside."