Controversial plans to close two Isle of Wight fire stations have moved a step closer after proposals were supported by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire Authority on Friday (August 29).
At a crucial meeting in Eastleigh, the Fire Authority backed recommendations to close the Bembridge and Yarmouth Fire Stations and for the removal of an aerial ladder platform from the Isle of Wight.
It follows a now closed public consultation.
However, they did vote to defer cuts to “frontline firefighter posts”.
After the meeting, Mark Chapman, Fire Brigades Union (FBU) regional secretary for the Southern Region, said there was now “extra time to fight for the funding we need” to stop the job losses.
Odin: The “least worst option”
Near the end of the meeting, Neil Odin, chief fire officer at Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service (HIWFRS), said the recommendations being considered were the “least worst option” of the “things that we could do”.
He added,
“The new chief faces much more dire financial situations in the future coming unless something happens.”
Mr Odin is handing over to new chief fire officer Sabrina Cohen-Hatton.
Ensuring financial sustainability is essential for long-term success
A chief fire officer report said,
“Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service continues to face a budget gap, caused by costs increasing faster than funding.
“The costs of delivering our services have outpaced our funding, and therefore we need to reassess how we provide our Service. Ensuring our financial sustainability is essential for our long-term success and these proposed changes will also contribute to our service-wide savings plan.
“This paper describes the analysis methods and outcomes of public and staff consultations to inform the decisions about operational changes required to meet the financial challenges – with estimated permanent recurring savings of around £2 million.”
The proposals
The report included proposals to ‘cease operations out of Bembridge Fire Station’, ‘combine Yarmouth and Freshwater Fire Stations at the Freshwater site’ and ‘remove an aerial ladder platform from the Isle of Wight’.
Those the Fire Authority chose to delay included implementing a new heavy rescue vehicle – allowing HIWFRS to reduce 16 wholetime firefighter posts, a new group structure for fire stations with a middle manager restructure and a restructured operational officers rota system.
Mr Chapman,
“Today’s outcome is a big achievement for our ‘Stop, Think and Reassess’ campaign. We now have extra time to fight for the funding we need to stop frontline job losses. If these cuts go through, response times and our ability to respond to emergencies will deteriorate leaving homes and lives at greater risk.
“It’s time for MPs in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight to step up and push central government to plug the gap. After 15 years of austerity, this fire and rescue service is on its knees.
“This government must deliver the positive change it has promised.”
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
