Consultation extended over controversial plans to reduce emergency fire service provision in Wrexham
A public consultation on controversial plans to cut emergency fire service provision in Wrexham and across the region has been extended.
In a bid to make financial savings the North Wales Fire and Rescue Authority has been seeking views on its three proposals since July.
Two of the three options being considered include the axing of Wrexham’s third appliance.
If removed this would leave the city with one whole time pump and crew, and one retained pump and crew – which is not always available.
It would see the number of firefighters locally reduce from 52 to 28.
The three options in full include:
Option 1: This would mean that the 12 rural firefighter posts and 28 wholetime firefighter posts from Rhyl and Deeside station would be
reallocated to the three new day staffed stations.Cover for Rhyl and Deeside would change to a day crewed model similar to the model which currently operates at Colwyn Bay, Llandudno, Bangor, Caernarfon and Holyhead. This will continue to be in addition to the existing RDS (Retained Duty System) firefighters who crew the second fire engine at all these stations.
Option 2: An alternative model which provides an improved emergency cover by introducing three new day staffed stations, but also releases savings of £1.1 million towards the increase in 2024/25 budget, currently estimated at £6 million thus limiting the year on year increase to £4.9m.
This option changes the crewing model at Rhyl and Deeside to a day staffed model, which leaves the night time cover to be provided solely by the RDS firefighters and removes the third appliance from Wrexham. In total this sees a reduction in 22 wholetime firefighter posts.
Option 3: Changes are in line with option 2, however, only two day staffed stations are introduced and the closure of 5 RDS fire stations is included. This is a reduction of 36 wholetime and 38 RDS firefighter posts realises savings of £2.4m thus limiting the year on year cost increase to £3.6m.
All three options “would lead to a decline in night-time response standards in communities, negatively affecting densely populated areas, industrial centres, major hospitals, and regions facing economic and social challenges,” the Fire Brigades Union has said.
So far 1,100 people have taken part in the public consultation – which has now been extended until midnight on September 30.
Chief Fire Officer Dawn Docx said: “I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who has taken part in our consultation and to those who have been attending our community engagement events across the region to ask questions and to express their views.
“We are pleased that so many have completed our questionnaire, whether online or on paper, and are getting involved in our consultation process.
“However, we have been listening carefully to what you have said since we launched the consultation on 20 July and we want to ensure that everyone has the best chance possible to record what they think our emergency cover should look like in the future.
“We are conscious that there are still members of the public, local organisations and those who represent others in our communities who are keen to have more time to express their views.”
Councillor Dylan Rees, Chair of the Fire and Rescue Authority, said: “The response so far is an indication of just how important this consultation is to everyone in North Wales and therefore we want to ensure we as an Authority have the best opportunity possible of understanding your views.
“Your feedback is important – and I urge everyone to make sure to make the most of this opportunity to let us know what you think about the options for providing emergency cover before the Fire Authority makes any final decisions about future provision.
“The more people get involved, the better our prospects of achieving the right balance of services and ensuring that the detailed action plans we develop will deliver exactly what the people of North Wales want.
“I also want to make it clear that both the Chief Fire Officer and I welcome any new ideas on what the future may look like and when it comes to any changes to emergency cover Authority members will consider all the feedback before making a final decision.”
The consultation can be found here: https://www.northwalesfire.gov.wales/about-us/emergency-cover-review-have-your-say/what-options-are-we-consulting-on-what-do-they-mean-for-our-communities-and-staff/
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