Public given say on fire service cuts

THE public is being asked to comment on plans to close 10 fire stations in West Yorkshire and cut 102 firefighters’ posts.

West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority agreed the draft plans yesterday which would see 10 stations closed and replaced by five new stations.

Chief Fire Officer Simon Pilling ordered a review of fire cover last year because of the need to save £18m over the next four years.

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The authority says the workload at some stations has fallen by almost half and it is time to reshape the service.

The proposed changes would see the closure of stations at Gipton, Stanks, Rawdon, Otley, Brighouse, Elland, Hemsworth, South Elmsall, Batley and Dewsbury.

They would be replaced with new stations at Killingbeck, Menston, Rastrick, South Kirkby and Batley Carr.

All the new stations would have additional, back-up engines which would be crewed during periods of high demand. The proposals could eventually save £4m a year.

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There would be 102 full-time firefighter posts removed “but all achieved through natural wastage,” said a spokesman.

Councillor David Ridgway, chairman of the fire authority, said the scale of Government cuts meant that there was no possibility of “back office”‟ or any other non-operational measures delivering enough savings. He stressed that no final decision would be taken until the authority’s meeting on December 16.

Councillors have approved controversial proposals for the most extensive overhaul of York’s emergency cover in more than a decade as the North Yorkshire brigade looks to build a new multi-million pound base to cover the city centre. The new city centre base on the site of the former Kent Street car and coach park will replace the current Clifford Street station.