After around two years of planning, construction work on the new Ettingen fire station has now begun.
The project, so it was said at the groundbreaking, is a “clear sign” to the Ettingen youth and symbolizes that the local fire brigade is facing a bright future.
Etting - “We're just waiting for the spade,” said Polling's Mayor Martin Pape, apologizing for the delayed start of the official groundbreaking ceremony, to which, among others, active and former local councilors, club representatives and planners had come to Etting. The construction vehicle that was supposed to deliver the utensils was still stuck in a traffic jam. But the 15 minutes didn’t matter when the new Ettingen fire station was built. “I am pleased that we are finally ready,” said District Fire Chief Rüdiger Sobotta in his welcoming address: “It was a long period of time. I've drilled into three mayors. "
Initial discussions regarding a replacement building for the old fire brigade building, which was built in 1976 and no longer meets modern standards, had already taken place during the term of office of former mayor Dominikus Weiß (1990 to 2008).
Pape recalled “difficult negotiations”: On the one hand, there were the costs and, on the other, the topographically cramped conditions in the Etting district of Pollingen.
Ultimately, the focus was on the turning point between Bachstrasse and “Am Sportplatz”.
Because the area was previously used as a gravel pit and later as a household waste dump, it was decided to build a pile structure without a basement.
Commandant's office and training room planned
Architect Peter Haberecht planned the fire brigade buildings in such a way that, together with the existing barn of the hunting association, they would result in a rural triangular courtyard. The core of the new building is the main building with a gable roof, which is accessed from the north via the inner courtyard. On the ground floor, next to the vehicle hall, space is planned for changing rooms, toilets and the black and white separation area. A commandant's office, a training room and a lounge equipped with a kitchen are to be set up on the upper floor.
The costs are a little more than three million euros.
"We will stay in this area", announced Haberecht at the groundbreaking ceremony.
The new fire station should be ready by the end of 2022.
According to Haberecht, it was an architectural challenge to “get the most out of a small area”.
Project as a "clear sign" for Ettingen youth
With regard to the wooden construction, Sobotta spoke of a “beautiful look” that would blend in well with the landscape. But functionality is in the foreground. In the past, fire stations were “better garages”, but today there are completely different requirements. There is a need for offices for the commanders, rooms for training or even areas of retreat in which the firefighters can follow up on the missions - both professionally and emotionally. Pape, in turn, emphasized that the fire brigade was not in demand for the new building: "The citizens with their buildings that they build and manage, the entire local area with its potential dangers - all of this determines the need for a fire station."
Conceptually, confirmed the commander Andreas Kraus, the new location is “optimally” geared towards the needs of the Ettinger Wehr with its specialty “fighting forest fires”.
The project is also a "clear sign" for the Ettingen youth that the institution is facing a good future.
"I am incredibly pleased that construction is now moving forward."
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