2:40pm Thursday 8th May 2008
By Gary Bills-Geddes
LEDBURY know-how, based on a senior firefighter's experience, has helped to design the next generation of appliances for Hereford and Worcester Fire Service.
Keith Wildig, the watch manager at Bye Street Station, spent three days this week in Scotland at the West Coast base of the specialist company, Appliance One.
The firm, based near Glasgow, has been asked to come up with new body-work designs for a new fleet of fire engines.
Mr Wildig was there to offer his hard-won advice on the design of the vehicles' lockers and storage areas.
He said that Appliance One had taken several of his suggestions on board.
The storage areas of a fire engine are of increasingly importance as more and more emergency equipment is carried, including cutting gear.
It is not the first time that Mr Wildig's expertise has been sought.
He first gave advice to Emergency One almost two years ago.
The Fire Service delegation left the Scottish firm with a decision to buy around six new appliances.
These new vehicles will probably not be based at Ledbury.
But the town could get more modern appliances, as existing vehicles are replaced elsewhere and moved on.
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