Politicians criticise fire station plans

The closure proposals have proved controversial

Politicians have slammed ‘roll of the dice’ plans that could leave rural lives as ‘collateral damage’ as part of proposals to close some of Devon’s fire stations and cut cover at others.

The Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service are currently consulting on proposals that could see eight stations close, with mothballing a number of engines and converting fully-manned stations into part-time operations in a bid to save millions of pounds also planned.

The proposals would see the closure of Appledore, Ashburton, Budleigh Salterton, Colyton, Kingston, Porlock, Topsham and Woolacombe stations – described by the fire service as ‘low risk, low activity stations, which are in close proximity to other fire stations’.

Explaining the rationale, Chief Fire Officer Lee Howell said the service had taken the view that these proposals to close low risk and low activity stations that attend very few numbers of incidents will mean our resources can be freed up better for prevention and protection.

Assistant Chief Fire Officer Pete Bond added: “On the places where we are proposing to remove the fire station – if they didn’t have an engine or a station at the moment then no-one would not be talking about introducing an engine there.”

But the proposals have proven controversial with nearly 6,000 people having backed a petition launched by the Fire Brigades Union, and local councillors and the region’s MPs have also spoken out strongly against the proposals.

At Monday morning’s Teignbridge District Council meeting, Cllr Alison Eden said that she thought the cuts will make communities and visitors less safe and asked how many rural lives are being calculated as acceptable collateral damage?

She said: “The cuts propose to close eight fire stations including Ashburton in Teignbridge, cut night-fire cover at stations across the districts cut second and third fire tenders at fire stations across the district and reduce the day cover for second fire tenders at 14 stations including Teignmouth in Teignbridge.

“Rural lives matter. The statistics being used to suggest we don’t need the service we currently have are bogus. I want an independent review of the proposals and I want the Conservative-controlled Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Authority to come clean about how many deaths they have decided are acceptable in order to save money.

“It’s a disgrace that yet again rural communities and small towns are being neglected. We have more housing, we have higher temperatures, and we have risks of fires on the moor.

“I am not happy the risks being spelt out. Someone in an office somewhere has decided a certain number of deaths is okay, and that is not okay. How can we possibly roll the dice of people’s lives when fire can happen at any time? We are frightened as the proposals increase the risk of rural deaths – does anyone care?”

Answering her question, Cllr Gordon Hook, leader of the council, said: “The proposed cuts to the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service can only reduce the effectiveness of the service, and in so doing put lives at greater risk. The public deserves a first-class service and this proposal does nothing to either enhance the current reputation of the service or increase the confidence of the public that their best interests are being served.

“It is unacceptable that any lives put at risk.  I will ask the DSFRA to come and brief Members on the proposals and I suggest that all Councillors make their concerns known through the DSFRA consultation process. I hope the answers they will give will allay some of the fears, but I have to question that.”

It followed similar concerns about the cuts that would see Topsham lose its fire station at the previous week’s Exeter City Council meeting.

Cllr Rob Newby, a former firefighter, said: “To me, it is outrageous that they want to drop the fire cover for Exeter. Will we be strong and harsh with the Fire Authority and demand they don’t cut our appliances?”

In response, Cllr Phil Bialyk, leader of the council, said: “We don’t want to see public service diminished. I will contact our MPs and ask them to do want you are saying.”

Asked what they thought of the fire service’s proposals, Devon’s MPs criticised the proposals to close stations and cut cover at others.

Ben Bradshaw, MP for Exeter, said: “Devon Fire and Rescue Service is now suffering its ninth year of cuts by this Conservative Government. This is simply unsustainable.

“Local fire chiefs are having to make very difficult decisions, to the best of their ability, based on their assessment of risk. This unprecedented period of deliberate Government austerity is ravaging our public services.

“We desperately need a Labour Government that will invest in our vital public services and put public safety first.”

Anne Marie Morris, MP for Newton Abbot, said that recent conversations with the leadership of Devon and Somerset Fire & Rescue had reassured her that the proposed changes will result in no job losses and every officer will be offered a position in the new structure.

She added: “The proposals are being put in place to ensure that levels of cover are provided where they are needed most, whilst also improving the terms and conditions for officers.

“However, any downgrading of resources on purely cost-cutting grounds would be unacceptable and I urge the public to have their say as part of the consultation on these proposals. 

“Increasingly, our blue light services are working more collaboratively in order to keep our communities safe. Therefore, in welcoming the Prime Minister’s announcement of 20,000 new police officers, I would ask that he ensures that the resources that other blue light services need are made available to them in a similar manner.”

Hugo Swire, East Devon’s MP said: “It is my view that we must ensure no reduction in coverage or incident response times from these changes. The fire service plays an integral role in many serious road traffic accidents. I therefore encourage everyone to please take part in the consultation to have your say.

“I am awaiting a reply from Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service Chief Lee Howell after I requested further clarification that there would be no reduction in coverage and incident response times were the closure of Topsham and Budleigh Salterton stations to go ahead.”

Mel Stride, the Central Devon MP, said that he was challenging the plans to close Ashburton fire station. He said: “I have recently visited Ashburton fire station and met with the local team and other fire officers from around the area. I am working closely with them to challenge the proposals for closing the station.”

Torbay MP Kevin Foster added that he was supporting the campaign to oppose plans to cut Torbay’s Fire Cover.

Statistics provided by the fire service ahead of the consultation outlined how many incidents the affected fire stations attended in their service area in 2018.

Appledore attended six incidents, Ashburton 43. Budleigh Salterton 15, Colyton 24, Kingston 4, Porlock 33, Topsham 20 and Woolacombe 8.

Explaining the rationale behind the proposals, Mr Howell had, said: “I recognise these are controversial proposals and will create concern but we are trying to use the resources we have to improve public safety. We are investing in protection and prevention and are freeing up resources to make our on-call services more resilient. Money is a factor but this isn’t just about money – it is about more than that.

“We are proposing to close a number of low risk, low activity stations, which are in close proximity to other fire stations. We have taken the view that these proposals to close low risk and low activity stations that attend very few numbers of incidents will mean our resources can be freed up better for prevention and protection.

“We all know that the main way to save lives is to prevent fires from happening in the first place. As a Service, we have made great progress but we feel we can and should be doing more to make people and buildings safer. At the same time, we need to improve our ability to respond to emergencies and ensure we better match our resources to our risks. These proposals aim to do just that.”

The Fire Authority agreed to put the six options for change out to public consultation. That begins on July 1 and will run to September 20.

Feedback will then be collated before a final decision is taken by the Fire Authority in November.

Implementation of any changes agreed will commence in 2020.