FREMANTLE council is trying to move St John’s Ambulance out of its Parry Street headquarters.

St John’s has a lease on the council-owned building which expires in August 2019, but mayor Brad Pettitt says the site beside Fremantle Park could be put to better use.

He wouldn’t be drawn on potential uses, but the council has for several years been trying to locate sites on the fringes of the CBD for potential car parks to replace the two it’s sold on Point and Pakenham streets and the two that will be transferred to Sirona if its Kings Square deal goes ahead. The council has announced plans for a small car park next door on a redeveloped Fremantle Park.

Hospital

Ambulances have been operating form the Parry Street site since1936 and first aid training classes started in 1937.

“We’ve asked St John’s to look at other possible sites,” Dr Pettitt says.

“The hospital could be a possibility as it is nowhere near full capacity.”

St John ambulance property manager Michael Longman says they’re weighing up their options.

“As far as maintaining the current location or relocating, this will be negotiated further both with the council and as part of the internal investigation that is commencing,” he says.

“St John utilises data to inform the best location of the ambulance service in any given area to ensure response times are the most efficient.”

By STEPHEN POLLOCK