Woodstock Council chooses location, buys land
The Woodstock Fire Department will move to a new location once a building can be constructed. At a recent Woodstock Town Council meeting, the council approved the purchase of land on Gallop Court for a new fire station.
The current building has been used by the fire department since 1962. Mayor Trina Jones says it is no longer meeting the department’s needs.
“Combined with the growth of the Woodstock Police Force and the town hall staff, the need for a new fire services building has been under investigation for the past two years as a high priority,” said Jones.
Once a design has been chosen, the council will seek out all sources for available funding. The town has earmarked $2.8 million from their 2024-2028 Canada Community Building Fund for the project.
It is still unclear if this space will be solely a fire hall, a combined fire and police station, or have other purposes.
“This is an exciting time for staff for all departments as they have been managing in spaces that are no longer meeting their needs,” said Jones.
The Woodstock Town Hall building, attached to the current fire department, is being evaluated to determine its condition and the most suitable future use. Administration staff are relocating to a leased office space on Connell Road as part of this process.
This move leaves the old town hall building as a protective services hub, now only accommodating the Woodstock Police Force and Woodstock Fire Department until long-term facility plans are finalized.
According to a public notice issued on Tuesday, May 6, the transition of administrative staff is now underway, and reception services have been temporarily moved to the former NB Power building at 244 Connell Road.
“As Woodstock continues to grow, it is important that we seek to invest in the supporting infrastructure that is required for our Town staff to be able to deliver services to our community members,” said Jones.
