When the new call signs were being implemented in the WEST SDA over a 7 week period beginning 31/8/2020 doing 1 LSO Area per week, Ardrossan was changed from R03 to G05.

December 2022    An Ambulance and a car are now stationed at Ardrossan double manned over two shifts 7 to 7. The Ambulance and car are kept outside.

ARDROSSAN’S NEW FIRE STATION 

ARDROSSAN'S FIRE STATION

Sir Neil Cochran Patrick Performs Opening Ceremony

On Saturday afternoon the new block of buildings in Barr Street, Ardrossan, comprising Ardrossan fire station and fireman's houses, were officially opened. The ceremony, at which Bailie Macknight, convener of the Works Committee, presided, and which was performed by Sir Neil Cochran-Patrick, convener of the County Council, took place on a platform placed outside the fire station in Barr Street, and was attended by a fair number of townspeople. Lady Cochran-Patrick accompanied Sir Neil, and, besides the civic representatives and their lady guests, there were present:- Provost Agnew and Councillor Scullion, Kilwinning; Mr James Morrison, Stevenson; Mr Egan and Mr Lawson, West Kilbride Ratepayer's Association; Mr Anderson , representing the contractors; and Mr Black of Black and Shapley, Ardrossan, the architects. Provost Kennedy, Saltcoats, sent an apology for his absence.
Bailie Macknight, in his opening remarks, said the Fire Brigade was inaugurated about six years ago. It was then housed on this present site in a corrugated iron shed lined with wood. Sometime in the fall of last year the Committee considered the question of repairing the shed, but they decided it would be badly spent money to repair it. They got into communication with Mr Black of Black and Shapley, the architects, and between them this was the result. The first spadeful of earth was dug about three days before the New Year, the first tenant entered on 28th May, and the whole building had been completed in practically six months. It was, therefore, evident that they had not been idle. There was a room in the centre of the building to house the fire engine, and in case the district should be extended in any way, the room has been made sufficiently large to accommodate another engine. All the members of the brigade were housed in the building. The firemaster and his deputy had direct connection with the room from inside their houses. When the alarm bell was rung, they just had to slide down a pole and they were in the fire station. The others came down the stair. The houses comprised two of 4-appartments and eight of 3-appartments, with all modern conveniences. They might at some future date have to erect a hose tower on which the hose could be dried independent of the weather. Meantime they had to hang the hose on the pole at the back, and they had to rely on the weather drying it, but sometimes it rained. Time was a great factor in fire fighting operations, and recently when a deputation from Saltcoats Town Council visited the Council Chambers, an example was provided of how speedily the brigade could turn out. Mr Dunn, the firemaster, was sitting in the room, and from the time he went out of the door until the brigade was round at the front of the building was exactly two minutes. He referred to the presence of representatives of Kilwinning Town Council and West Kilbride Ratepayer's Association, and said they had been fortunate in securing the services of Sir Neil Cochran-Patrick, the Convener of the County, to open the new building. The names of Kennedy and Cochran-Patrick required no introduction to an Ayrshire audience. These names were intimately associated with the whole history of Ayrshire as far back as they could read of. And in Sir Neil they had a gentleman who had the interests of the whole county at heart, and whom the King had honoured by conferring on him a knighthood for his services to the county and to the country at large. (Applause)

Opening Ceremony

Sir Neil Cochran-Patrick, in opening the building, said that when he received the invitation to take part in that ceremony, he accepted it with great alacrity. For many years he had felt that he owed a debt of gratitude to Ardrossan, both personal and public. As regards the personal aspect, all during his life he yearly got a holiday in Arran. The best part of a holiday was the first step off, and the first step off for a holiday in Arran was to come to Ardrossan. Therefore, among the best moments of his holiday, were his recollection of his arrival at and sailing from Ardrossan. Regarding his public debt of gratitude, he would like to say how much they in the County Council owed to the representatives Ardrossan sent to that body. Their Provost stood for all that was best in the public life of the county, and for many years ex-Bailie Hopperton had been convener of one of the most important and most active committees of the County Council. It was gratifying that this ancient burgh of theirs which dated back to the thirteenth century, and which had been so closely connected with the history of Scotland, still retained the public spirit, the foresight and the energy shown by their forefathers. In no matter could that spirit be better developed than in the erection of that fire station which he had the great honour of coming there that day to open. It was the first duty of every individual and of every public body to secure the safety of the public from the terrible danger of fire. It was the duty, he was afraid, which many private individuals neglected and which many public bodies were very far behind in the discharge of. We in Ayrshire were no better in that regard than other counties. But here in Ardrossan seven years ago they realized the necessity for making proper provision against fire. They provided a thoroughly equipped fire station, a modern fire engine, hydrants throughout the town, and the necessary appliances. One thing remained to be done, and that was to provide a station where the firemen would reside so that they could be ready on immediate call. Now that had been done. As Convener, he wished to tender to Ardrossan Town Council the sincere thanks of the Town Council for the foresight, energy, and ability with which they had carried out that great public duty. In Ayrshire they had only three fire stations, one at Kilmarnock, one at Ayr, and one at Ardrossan, and the County Council relied upon those different stations to assist them should fire break out in country districts. Ardrossan had entered into an arrangement with Saltcoats, Kilwinning, West Kilbride, and Fairlie to serve them and he had no doubt that outside of these districts, if the occasion required it, they would also be prepared to give what help they could. It was better to have a small number of really up to date stations than a large number of inadequately equipped stations. That was the policy they followed in the County of Ayr, and he was glad Ardrossan had provided one of these modern stations. He congratulated the inhabitants and the Town Council of Ardrossan on the great help they had given the County Council in this respect (Applause)
In declaring the station open, Sir Neil pressed the electric bell at the door and simultaneously a member of the brigade inside the building pulled a lever which caused the front doors of the station to open.
Provost M'Dowall said it was a very great pleasure to have them on that red letter day for Ardrossan Sir Neil and Lady Cochran-Patrick. In his capacity of convener of the County Council Sir Neil took a very real interest in everything pertaining to the progress and well being of the county. He asked for a hearty vote of thanks for Sir Neil. (Applause) On behalf of Ardrossan Town Council he had much pleasure in asking him to accept a silver mounted and inscribed walking stick as a momento of his presence amongst them that day. (Applause)
Sir Neil Cochran-Patrick expressed thanks and said he would treasure that gift among the family heirlooms and would look upon it with many happy recollections of that visit of Lady Cochran-Patrick and himself to Ardrossan. (Applause)
Bailie Macknight said that Black and Shapley, the architects, had given entire satisfaction. The arrangement of the building had been seen by several experts and they said it could not have been improved upon. Mr James Anderson was the building contractor, and the other contractors were:- Joiner, Dugald M'Callum, Saltcoats; slater and rough caster, James Allison & Sons, Ardrossan; plumbers, Larbert and Reid, Ardrossan; painters, James Cance & Sons, Ardrossan; glazier, A M'Phee, Glasgow; electricians, W & A Rogers, Ardrossan. The fire alarm bells were put in by the firemen themselves at the cost of the material. Every house was connected with the alarm.
Mr. James Anderson the building contractor, said it had been really a pleasure to work on that building. They had had every help from the convener. On behalf of the architect and the contractors he expressed thanks to Bailie Macknight and Firemaster Dunn for their valuable assistance, and he asked Bailie Macknight to accept the gift of a chair to remind him of his work in connection with the new fire station, and to comfort him in sitting at his own fireside. (Applause)
Bailie Macknight returned thanks for the unexpected gift, and complimented the contractors on the way they had worked.
Bailie Harvey, in proposing a vote of thanks to Bailie Macknight for presiding, spoke of the great interest the convener had taken in that work and said that that fire station would stand as a memorial to him. The Town Council, he added, were fortunate in having Bailie Macknight as works convener.
Sir Neil and Lady Cochran-Patrick were shown through the station and the houses, expressing themselves as greatly pleased with all they saw. The brigade gave a demonstration turnout, the time occupied between the giving of the alarm and the engine emerging from the station being thirty seconds. Afterwards the party partook of light tea in the Burgh Chambers.

The Buildings

The new buildings, which cost £3,500, consist of a fire station, capable of accommodating two fire engines, a duty room and office, a recreation room, two four apartment houses for the firemaster and deputy firemaster, and eight three apartment houses for the firemen. The fire station is centrally placed in the building and easy access can be obtained from all the houses to the station. The firemaster's and deputy's houses are situated directly above the station, and access is gained to the latter when required by opening a hatch in the floor and sliding down a pole. All the houses are connected with an alarm bell and the firemaster can summon the whole of the members of the brigade at once or any individual member separately. The main doors of the station are automatically opened by the pulling of a cord which can be operated by the pulling of a cord which can be operated by the driver of the fire engine when the engine is ready to emerge from the station. The buildings are well equipped in every way and have a good appearance.
<PHOTO>No title. (Of the station in Barr Street)
<PHOTO> The Platform Party
(Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, July 20,1934. Page 3)

YEAR'S FIRE SERVICE

Ardrossan Firemaster's Annual Report