Bellshill part time firemen will be disbanded on April 28 unless two local M.P.'s, Mr John Timmons, Bothwell and Mr James Dempsey, Coatbridge and Airdrie, can persuade the Secretary of State for Scotland to change his mind.
Mr Maclay has said he is not prepared to overrule the decision of Lanarkshire joint fire board committee.
Mr Timmons said last night:- "In his letter the Secretary of State gives three main reasons for refusing to interfere. He says that regular firemen from Motherwell can travel to Bellshill in four minutes, and that on many occasions they arrive at the fire first as they travel in an enclosed van and dress on the way.
The third reason is the increasing difficulty of finding men for the retained service".
Mr Dempsey said:- " In answer to the first part I had a police car travel from Motherwell fire station to Kenilworth Crescent, Bellshill. The mileage was 3.7 and not 2.8 as claimed by the firemaster".
"The journey took nine minutes, not four as stated, despite the fact that the traffic lights at Motherwell Cross were in the police car's favour".
"The question of finding replacements occurred only in Cambuslang where there was a major development. That has never been the case in Bellshill. It is obvious that if Bellshill were to be closed there would not be sufficient fire coverage for the area. We intend to urge the Secretary of State to keep the station open.
(The Glasgow Herald, Monday 16th April, 1962. Page 3.)

Firemaster Opens Bellshill Station

Over 200 guests and members of Lanarkshire Fire Service attended the official opening of Bellshill’s new £145,000 fire station last Friday.
Performing the opening ceremony was Firemaster of Lanarkshire Fire Brigade, Mr John Stewart, who will retire when regionalisation comes into operation next month.
The new station, situated on Old Edinburgh Road at Righead, has four fire engines and will be staffed by a total of 28 firemen, working on three shifts.
The station will serve an area extending from Tannochside to Newhouse, and will provide extra cover for Newarthill and Carfin areas, which currently come under the umbrella of Motherwell Fire Service.
The site for the new complex was chosen because of it’s proximity to the main motorways, which means that appliances can reach a fire much quicker than the Hamilton based appliances which formerly served the area.
Training facilities at Bellshill’s new station include a 40 foot tower at the rear of the station – which can also be used for drying hoses – and a lecture room.
Although the station did not officially open until last week, it has been operational since December last year.
After Friday’s opening ceremony, a dedication was undertaken by the Rev. Arthur F. S. Kent minister of Bellshill’s West Church.
<PHOTO> Pictured above, Mr Stewart delivers his opening speech. Below one of four engines (SVD381M) drives through the white ribbon to mark the opening. (none of these photos are on this WEB site)
(The Bellshill Speaker, Friday, April 18,1975. Page 1.)

LANARKSHIRE FIRE BRIGADE

MEMBERS OF
LANARKSHIRE FIRE BRIGADE JOINT COMMITTEE

CHAIRMAN                                                                         James Aiton, C.B.E., J.P.
VICE CHAIRMAN                                                               Edward McArdle, J.P.
LANARK COUNTY COUNCIL                                         Mrs. Mary Barclay, J.P.
                                                                                                Wm. H. Bell, M.B.E., D.L., J.P.
                                                                                                H. B. Brown
                                                                                                Thomas Craig
                                                                                                John Crichton, J.P.
                                                                                                Francis Duffin
                                                                                                Alex. Forrest, J.P.
                                                                                                Mrs. J. A. Gilbert, J.P.
                                                                                                Mrs. J. F. Hamilton
                                                                                                W. MacLachlan, J.P.
                                                                                                Mrs. Janet W. Nairn
                                                                                                R. F. Nairn, J.P.
                                                                                                R. Wilson
BURGH OF AIRDRIE                                                          Mrs. E. D. Donald, J.P.
                                                                                                W. G. Ferguson, J.P.
BURGH OF COATBRIDGE                                                 Francis Diamond
                                                                                                R. Gilson
BURGH OF EAST KILBRIDE                                            A. Freebairn
                                                                                                J. Meldrum
                                                                                                D. M. Sanderson
BURGH OF HAMILTON                                                    F. McMenemy, J.P.
                                                                                                R. Sherry, J.P.
BURGH OF MOTHERWELL &                                          John Fox, O.B.E., J.P.
WISHAW                                                                              J. McGhee
                                                                                                B. M. Scott
BURGH OF RUTHERGLEN                                                J. R. Watson, O.B.E., J.P.
CLERK TO THE JOINT COMMITTEE                             John Fraser, B.L.
FIREMASTER                                                                      John Stewart, O.B.E., Q.F.S.M., G.I. Fire E.

BELLSHILL FIRE STATION
 

The fire defences of the northern part of the County have been materially strengthened by the provision of this New Fire Station, situated as it is, in close proximity to the motorway network of road communications. It is the penultimate project of the Joint Committee's rebuilding programme.
The design of the Station has been produced with a view to reducing the circulation space to a minimum, thereby reducing the amount of cleaning work required.
The Appliance Room has accommodation for four appliances, and is provided with an inspection pit. The doors are of the overhead type, electrically operated, and have a self-closing device, so that the Station can be left unattended and lock fast.
A Lecture Room is provided, complete with revolving blackboard, and other training aids.
The modem Kitchen has a full range of stainless steel equipment, and has adequate cupboard accommodation.
The entire building is electrically heated on “off peak” tarriff rate, and all floors are treated with a floor seal to reduce maintenance costs to a minimum.
The Training and Hose Drying Tower makes provision for the drying of up to twenty seven lengths of hose at one time. This is achieved by the use of a 5 ft. diameter fan, situated in the roof of the Tower, and which accelerates the natural air flow, so speeding up the drying process.
A Petrol Pump complete with 1,000 gallon storage tank is provided in the yard at the rear of the Station.
The Station, manned by three Station Officers, four Sub. Officers, two Leading Firemen, and nineteen Firemen, is situated in Rigghead Industrial Estate, Old Edinburgh Road, Bellshill, and became operational on 27th December, 1974. The estimated cost is approximately £145,000.

Design and Supervision of Building                                 G.F. Ingham, D.A.(Edin.), R.I.B.A.,
                                                                                                Dip.T.P., M.R.T.P.I., A.R.I.A.S.
                                                                                                County Architect,
                                                                                                Lanark County Council. 

Main Contractor                                                                   Lanark County Council,
                                                                                                Works Department.

ORDER OF PROCEEDINGS 

1730 hours                                                                             Guests assemble

1750 hours                                                                             Platform Part assemble 

1755 hours                                                                             Introductory Remarks
                                                                                                JAMES AITON. ESQ., C.B.E., J.P., Chairman,
                                                                                                Lanarkshire Fire Brigade Joint Committee

 1800 hours                                                                             The Chairman will invite
                                                                                                JOHN STEWART ESQ., O.B.E., Q.F.S.M., G.I. FIRE E.,
                                                                                                Firemaster, Lanarkshire Fire Brigade,
                                                                                                to formally open the Station 

1805 hours                                                                             Unveiling of Commemorative Plaque
                                                                                                By FIREMASTER JOHN STEWART

                                                                                                Dedication Ceremony
                                                                                                THE REV. A.F.S. KENT, Minister
                                                                                                West Parish Church, Bellshill 

1815 hours                                                                             Chairman's Remarks 

1820 hours                                                                             Guests leave for County Buildings, Hamilton

Lanarkshire Fire Brigade Joint Committee 

BELLSHILL FIRE STATION

Chairman – JAMES AITON, ESQ., C.B.E., J.P., Chairman of Joint Committee

MENU 

Iced Honeydew Melon 

Minestrone Soup 

Grilled Lemon Sole 

Stuffed Saddle of Lamb 

Fresh Strawberries and Cream
or
Cheese Board 

Coffee — Cream 

(A Buffet of Tea, Sandwiches and Cakes is available at the conclusion of the evening’s proceedings). 

Grace                                                                                      The Rev. Arthur S.F. Kent

The Queen                                                                            The Chairman 

Introductory Remarks         ...                                             James Aiton, Esq., C.B.E., J.P.,
                                                                                                Chairman of Joint Committee 

“Lanarkshire Fire Brigade Joint Committee”                    Harry Ewing, Esq., M.P.,
                                                                                                Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at Scottish Office. 

Reply                                                                                      R.F. Nairn, Esq., J.P.,
                                                                                                Member of Joint Committee 

Comments by Firemaster                                                    John Stewart, Esq., O.B.E., Q.F.S.M., G.I. FIRE E.,
                                                                                                Firemaster, Lanarkshire Fire Brigade 

Appreciation                                                                         E. McArdle, Esq., J.P.,
                                                                                                Vice Chairman of Joint Committee 

Closing Remarks                                                                  The Chairman

Life Saving partnership in Fire Stations
Paramedics with the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) are to be based in three Strathclyde fire stations on a trial basis.
The 12-month trial will help the SAS to meet its target of attending top priority Category A calls within eight minutes. Under the scheme, SAS Rapid Response crews will share washroom and other facilities with firefighters based in three Lanarkshire fire stations – Hamilton, Lanark and Bellshill. (11/8/2006)

Operational 27/12/1974  Official Opening 11/4/1975.

If you know of any mistakes in this or have any additional information please let me know.