Posted: Tue 21st Jun 2016

Consultation to Launch on Plans to Axe Full Time Fire Appliance in Wrexham

Wrexham.com for people living in or visiting the Wrexham area
This article is old - Published: Tuesday, Jun 21st, 2016

Twenty four firefighter jobs and one full time appliance could be lost in Wrexham before the end of the decade, with the proposed reduction described as the ‘least damaging option’.

The statement was made yesterday during a meeting which saw members of the North Wales Fire and Rescue Authority consider plans for the future of the services provided across the region.

During the meeting the authority’s financial prospects were discussed and a wide range of options for continuing to provide affordable services for the public of North Wales were considered.

Last month Wrexham.com reported that the fire service in Wrexham faced a reduction in appliances, prompting concerns on the potentially serious impact it could have across the town.

The proposed reduction of appliances in Wrexham came following a meeting between members of the North Wales Fire Authority who had concluded that it was ‘no longer possible to freeze the authority’s budget’.

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As a result, the Authority’s Improvement Plan Working Group began to develop a medium term budget strategy which consists of using its reserves, increasing contributions from councils, and service cuts.

Several further options were also considered, including the closure of the control room, closing nine rural stations, and the removal of a whole time appliance from Wrexham Fire Station.

However it was concluded that the removal of a whole time appliance in Wrexham before the end of the decade, would be ‘explored further and consulted on’.

When the initial proposals were mooted last month, they were instantly questioned by members of the public, the FBU (Fire Brigades Union) and political representatives – who raised concern on the impact losing an appliance could have on an area the size of Wrexham.

Issues with arson in the area and the opening of the new prison were also cited as reasons to retain Wrexham’s appliance.

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However the proposed reduction in appliances in Wrexham was yesterday described as being the ‘least damaging option’ by Councillor Meirick Davies.

Cllr Davies, who was re-elected as Chair of the Fire Authority just before the subsequent full Authority meeting, went onto say: “This decision to reduce services in the future has not been taken lightly by Authority members, but rather on the basis of being the least damaging option.

“Members considered in great detail the question of what service reductions would support achievement of the savings target. We recognised that any service reductions beyond those already implemented will involve some risk to both the public and the Authority. We could not ignore, however, the serious financial issues that the Authority will face in the next five years and felt that we had to set risk against the available resources.

“Inevitably, reductions will have to come from reducing posts, as salaries make up 70% of the Authority’s revenue budget. Significant savings have already been generated through two restructures within the fire and rescue service and it was recognised that no further savings can be found in this way.”

With regards to Wrexham, Cllr Davies said: “Reluctantly, therefore, we concluded that the only area of the budget where savings of the required magnitude could be found was in operational services. We took into account a detailed analysis of information on all aspects of operational activity – including working methods, crewing systems and workforce deployment.

“After careful consideration it was decided that we will consult on the proposed budget strategy which includes the potential removal of a whole time pump from Wrexham by the end of this decade.

“We look forward to hearing people’s views during the consultation, which will take place in the Autumn.”



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