A PLANNING application that sees an historic Hereford site torn down to make way for a new fire station has been submitted this week.

 The application asks for a full demolition of the city’s former working boys  home in Bath Street.

Proposed in its place is a “new fire station and training facility”.

Heritage campaigners fought to save the working boys home earlier this year.

English Heritage, however, rejected an application to list the site.

 For years the site has been used as offices by various local authorities with Herefordshire Council the most recent occupier.

The council signed off a deal with Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service that the Bath Street site “swapped” for the site of the city’s present fire station.

A final challenge to the swap deal is expected to come to full council later this month.

That challenge will test the council’s assessment of other options - including the potential for a joint emergency services centre – ahead of the swap deal being agreed.