A STUDY looking at the feasibility of building a new fire station in St Helens could be carried in the next financial year, a new report has said.

Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority approved plans to build a new “super station” in St Helens town centre in 2015.

Since then there has been little development on the new station, which is earmarked for the Pilkingtons site at Watson Street.

However, in the fire authority’s draft Service Delivery Plan for 2018-2019, one of its key priorities is to complete feasibility study and detailed costing exercise for a new build fire station in St Helens during the new financial year, which begun on April 6.

If the new station is built, it is intended that Eccleston and Parr Stocks stations will close.

The fire authority recently took the decision to cut wholetime fire crews between the hours 8.30pm to 8.30am from Eccleston and five other stations across Merseyside, with retained crewing overnight on a 30-minute recall.

A spokesman for Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority said: “Retained crews will be called to duty overnight if the number of fire appliances drops below a predetermined level, in order to provide support and resilience.

“Immediate response to incidents occurring overnight on the Eccleston station area will be made from St Helens Community Fire Station as the key station in the St Helens local authority area, supported by Prescot, Newton-le-Willows and Kirkby Community Fire Stations.

“The fire appliance at Eccleston will relocate to the new St Helens fire station, which is planned to be built on the Pilkingtons site at Watson Street.

“These proposals are a direct response to the ongoing cuts to Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority’s budget, which continue until 2020.

“It is the least worst option available to the authority in order to manage the cuts.”