Two of Sheffield’s busiest commercial property fire stations are set to pull down their shutters for good, in controversial plans being recommended for approval.
A report urges fire authority chiefs to give the go-ahead to proposals, which, it is claimed, will signify ‘better savings and the least impact on the community’.
None of the 16 alternatives put forward by locals during the consultation stage have been taken up.
Brigade bosses say the public’s ideas-which included increasing council tax for every South Yorkshire household by £23 a year-would cost too much, and put lives in danger.
Darnall and Mansfield Road stations, as well as the retained commercial property station in Mosborough, will be closed and replaced with two new commercial property bases, one in Birley and one off The Parkway.
The retained station at Royston will be closed, the retained crew at Edlington in Doncaster axed, and three roving pumps which supply back-up when fire fighters are out training will be abandoned.
Fire fighters at quieter commercial property stations will only work day shifts, but be based at their stations at night on-call, for additional pay. The plans would mean redundancy for 38 retained fire fighters, and 108 full-time fire fighter posts lost through retirement. No recruitment is intended for three years. The final say goes to the Fire Authority next Friday.
Fire chiefs are adamant they do not want to hit frontline services-yet Government cuts mean they must save around £10m before 2015. Jamie Courtney, Chief Fire Officer, said: “We thank everyone who has taken the time to give us their views. We have given full consideration to all the proposals.
“We believe no ne provide the necessary level of emergency fire cover, with the same level of savings. Our recommendation to the authority is they approve the original proposals.”
Courtney further added: “We don’t want to make these changes. But, faced with a likely £10m, funding cut, we believe they will enable us to reduce our budget with the minimum impact.”
The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) objected, but did not put forward any alternatives.
A serving South Yorkshire fire fighter, FBU official Graham Wilkinson, said: “One of our main fears is the impact these plans will have on attendance times, especially in Mansfield Road and Darnall which are among the most deprived areas of Sheffield and where there is more risk of fire.”
He said the union plans to lobby councillors MPs ahead of this Friday’s meeting.
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