PLANS for a new multi-million pound fire station in Watford are just days away from being approved.

Hertfordshire County Council is set to agree to the station being built in Lower High Street in place of a local tyre garage.

The county's development control committee will debate the plans on Tuesday, but this is expected to be a formality after Watford Council said it had no objection to the application.

County planning officers have received no written objections from residents either.

If agreed, the station, which would employ 12 officers and 40 firefighters, could be in operation by spring 2005.

Watford firefighters say they need a new station in a more central location so they can provide better cover for the area.

The county council, which owns the site, wants to sell the land to developers to pay for the new fire station.

They have the backing of the West Watford Community Forum and ward councillor David Wright who also have concerns over traffic.

Watford Council will consider the plans before the end of the year.