Council revise proposed fire service cuts following consultation

COUNCIL bosses have backed down over proposed cuts to fire service cover after a successful public campaign amid “fierce response” to changes.

Cumbria County Council’s Labour-Lib Dem cabinet were due to make a final decision in February on proposals to scrap the evening full-time cover in Ulverston between the hours of 8pm and 8am.

Under the changes, one full-time fire crew would have been be removed from Ulverston and the rarely-used, under-staffed resilience crew in Barrow will become an on-call crew.

That would mean the whole of South Cumbria would be left with just one full-time 24/7 fire engine at night with support from on-call crews. The nearest full-time fire crew would have been in Carlisle.

Lesley Sadler and her partner Mike Jackson had their home in Soutergate, Ulverston saved from destruction by Ulverston’s full-time crew when a fire started in her attic last December.

She described the re-think as a “victory for common sense”.

“It’s great news,” she added.

As a result of a higher-than-expected level of response to the public consultation, which is in part due to our challenging the reasons behind the changes, the council put back its decision to March 22.

The council has now revised its proposals with firefighters crediting the public’s support with persuading fire bosses to rethink their plans.

While the full-time Ulverston crew will still only work during the day the council is reinstating the full-time night-time crew at Kendal. Previously Kendal has been on-call only during the evening.

An on-call crew will be created at Barrow and there are plans to increase the number of on-call firefighters in Ulverston from 16 to 30.

Eddie Burrows, the secretary of the Cumbria branch of the Fire Brigades Union, said while the re-think “wasn’t perfect” it was still a “step in the right direction”.

“I have to say the response from the public and firefighters, supported by The Mail, is undoubtedly the reason for this revision,” he said.

“We rely on the local press; you are our voice to help us communicate and that’s invaluable to the community and to us.”

Ulverston Town Councillor, Normal Bishop-Rowe, who was fiercely opposed to any changes at Ulverston Fire Station, said: “I welcome the fact that they are reviewing the station but I am still very concerned that they are taking a pump from Ulverston.”

Steve Healey, Chief Fire Officer, said: “We have listened to consultation feedback carefully and made some amendments to our original proposals. The changes are consistent with our original aim of using available resources in the most efficient and effective ways to manage risk and ensure public safety.

“While the proposed changes at Ulverston would go ahead, the new day crew would work a 12 hour shift, not eight hours as previously consulted on. This would extend full-time cover and limit on call hours to periods with lowest levels of demand on the service.

“In addition, recognising concerns raised about the resultant reduction in full-time fire cover at night in the south of the county, and the importance of maintaining public confidence, we are proposing to bring forward, and implement during 2018/19, pre-existing plans to create a new full time night–shift at Kendal.

“These changes would ensure that the south of the county will continue to be covered by two whole-time crews – one in Barrow and one in Kendal.”

The revised proposals are set to be considered by the county council’s Cabinet next week.

 

Article originally appeared on The Mail

The Institute cannot confirm the accuracy of this story or confirm that it presents a balanced view. If you feel this is inaccurate we would welcome your perspective and evidence that this is the case.

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