Safety Central, a pioneering £3.5m safety education centre developed on the site of the old station opened its doors yesterday.

It will operate as a centre of excellence across West Yorkshire and is
unique to the region in that it will cover all aspects of safety awareness and education for visiting groups.

Although the project is led by West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority, its partners include local councils, emergency services, the NHS and voluntary groups.

Chief Fire Officer Simon Pilling said: "Safety Central is the first of its kind and raises the bar in terms of multi-agency working to promote safety in the home, on our roads and in our lifestyles.

"Fires and accidents, deaths and injuries, happen for all sorts of reasons and no single agency will make a dramatic difference.

"We need to break down institutional boundaries, roll up our sleeves and work together."

Councillor David Ridgway, who chairs West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority, said that Safety Central offered a glimpse into the future as far as public services were run.

He said: "The days when local authorities worked in silos are gone for good. People who are in need of help don't care who provides it; they only care that help is there when it's needed.

Staff have already launched a range of projects working with schools, colleges and people with disabilities. It has a state-of-the-art training complex, conference rooms and exhibition space.

In keeping with its trailblazing credentials the building has been designed to the highest environmental standards.