Merging of fire stations defended by brigade

SENIOR fire officials have maintained a major overhaul of a Yorkshire brigade’s operations is vital despite accusations that a bid to streamline its bases will put lives at risk.

Members of Leeds City Council’s north and east plans panel yesterday discussed issues relating to the consolidation of Gipton and Stanks stations. Planning permission is being sought to bring them together in a new fire station on the site of a former petrol station at Killingbeck in east Leeds.

The move will reduce the number of pumps from three to two, and see the loss of 24 members of staff, according to West Yorkshire Fire Brigades Union (WYFBU). David Williams, WYFBU secretary, said the union actively opposed the plan that would reduce fire cover and increase response times.

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He said: “Minutes matter. Closing Gipton and Stanks stations and moving them a couple of miles further out is not right and we will continue to oppose it.”

He added: “There will be a reduction in fire cover. People will not experience the same response times. While they might not notice any difference on the first call, they will see delays on the second and third calls as resources are stretched. It will cost lives.”

The existing stations at Gipton and Stanks are located 3.7 miles apart. The application is for a new two-storey fire station with associated access, car parking and landscaping. Proposed accommodation will comprise of a three-bay vehicle garage, offices, sleeping facilities and rest and recreation areas. A training tower would be located to the west of the site.

If passed, the new station would be located just north of the A64 York Road, at its junction with Moresdale Lane, to the east of Killingbeck Police Station. Consolidating the two would represent an “economic, effective and efficient way of providing fire and rescue services for these areas”, according to the case put forward by West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS).

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Documents indicate that both Gipton and Stanks stations are “dated” in terms of appearance and functionality. The background reports claim they are “not situated within the best locations to serve the catchment area”.

But Mr Williams disagrees, adding if either site was out-of-date it was because money set aside for renovations had not been spent wisely.

He said: “Gipton was built where it is 85 years ago because it was needed there at that location. Nothing has change. It’s probably needed more now than ever because of the infrastructure that’s built up around it.”

Subject to planning permission being granted, the brigade aims to build Killingbeck Station by 2015. Existing stations will be “disposed of” once vacant. English Heritage has submitted an application to make Gipton station a listed building.

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The concerns in West Yorkshire come in the wake of similar fears expressed in the region earlier this week. Humberside Fire and Rescue Service has seen 150 jobs go since 2007, and chief fire officer Richard Hannigan confirmed that numbers could decline by up to 60 posts in the next two to three years to meet Government cuts. The FBU claimed the changes will increase the danger to the public, but Mr Hannigan said current response standards would be maintained.