People in Southwold can have their say on plans to build a new fire station.

The town's retained fire crew could be relocated to a purpose-built station on the Reydon Business Park, if the proposals are given the go-ahead by Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS).

Senior fire officers are considering the option because of the poor conditions of the firefighters ageing base on Station Road, which needs a 'significant' sum of money to keep it in working order.

But none of the station's 11 firefighters and its single fire engine would be lost if the move takes place.

The drop-in session will be held on Wednesday August 15 between 5pm and 8pm at Southwold Fire Station. Fire officers will be on hand to answer questions.

The mayor of Southwold, Michael Ladd said he is disappointed that the station is moving from the town and called for the vacant site to become a community building in the future.

He said: 'We are disappointed that it is moving from the current site, but we are glad it is staying in reasonable distance, and staff will be better off by the facilities.

'But my concern looking forward is 'what is going to happen with the current site?'

'We would like it to remain within the community, and we would like to resist any housing development. However, at this stage it is too early to say.'

The new station would be based in Reydon approximately 0.8 miles from the current site in Southwold. The SFRS claim the move will not affect response times.

Mark Sanderson, assistant chief fire officer for Suffolk, said: 'Our plans to relocate to a new station, under a mile away in nearby Reydon, are partly due to the condition of the current fire station and grounds that require significant investment.

'Any relocation will involve the existing firefighters, who have been providing an excellent service to the people of Southwold and the surrounding area for many years.

'By relocating the fire station closer to where most of our firefighters live, we may be even better placed in the community to respond to emergency calls, particularly at night.'

Suffolk has 35 fire stations, 28 have on-call crews, including Southwold, with four crewed 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

If a new fire station gets the go ahead then building work could start as early as this year.

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