A COUNCILLOR wants an investigation into whether the city needs a new fire station to cope with increasing pressures.

Cllr Richard Udall raised the prospect of building Worcester's second fire station in his St John's ward.

The councillor has concerns about how a planned 2,150-home development, known as the Worcester West Urban Extension, will impact on firefighters' response times.

He also questioned how the expanding university and growing levels of congestion will affect the fire service.

"If an investigation finds a new fire station is needed it would be necessary for the developers to pay for it," he said.

"We need the infrastructure to go with such a large development and that may have to include a new fully equipped fire station.

"Once planning permission has been given and the houses are up, it will be too late.

"We have to consider if just one fire station, is enough for the whole city and if it provides adequate fire cover for St John’s and its surrounding villages.

"With so many student houses in St John’s the fire risk has increased.

"We need to take into account changes to the area and to make the decisions about future fire stations to keep people safe."

Cllr Udall said that fire engines need to get to a blaze within 10 minutes of a call.

He added that firefighters might not be able to reach his ward - and the surrounding villages - within 10 minutes.

Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service continually reviews its cover as part of the Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP).

A spokesman for the service said: "A number of key elements such as the economic situation, population growth and change and environmental changes are looked into with regards to the planning of any new fire station.

"At this time the CRMP has not identified this need. Should the risk profile within the two counties change significantly in the future - identifying the potential for a new fire station appropriate - consideration of all the facts will be undertaken by the Fire Authority."

The spokesman added that the service identifies and assesses risks through the plan and currently provides appropriate cover.

Full-time and on-call firefighters operate the city's only fire station, which is in McKenzie Way.

A Worcester City Council spokesman said the South Worcestershire Development Plan supports new community facilities in appropriate locations.

However, planners consulted the fire service during the development of the plan and did not identify a need for a new fire station.