A DECISION on proposed cuts to fire service provision in Inverclyde is due to be made next week.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Board will meet on Monday, 22 June to consider the outcome of the nationwide Service Delivery Review (SDR).
The recommendation for Inverclyde is that the second wholetime appliance at Greenock be permanently changed from a combined aerial rescue pump (CARP) to a dedicated high reach appliance (HRA), a reduction of 15 firefighter posts in the district.
The pumping capability of the second wholetime appliance (CARP) was temporarily withdrawn in September 2023 and only its high-reach capability has been used since. The CARP will be replaced with a dedicated high-reach vehicle.
A report to the board states: “Evaluation provides confidence that the temporary configuration is effective and that permanent transition from a CARP to a dedicated HRA is appropriate and deliverable.
“The area has a high density of pumping appliances when compared to other areas with similar risk and demand. This is confirmed by the low levels of incident demand experienced at Greenock and Port Glasgow stations when compared to the other stations with the same number of pumping appliances and the same crewing configurations.
“Demand analysis identified that Greenock has a low level of mobilisations compared to other Scottish stations with two wholetime pumps. Simulation Modelling has evidenced that withdrawing a wholetime pumping appliance from Greenock would have one of the lowest impacts on Second Attending Pumping Appliance response times.
“This is why the operational role of the Greenock CARP was temporarily reduced to that of a dedicated HRA as part of the temporary wholetime pump withdrawals in 2023.”
A second option also proposed changes to how two other local crews are manned but it is not being recommended for approval.
Chief Officer Stuart Stevens said: “The Service Delivery Review is about ensuring we have a fire and rescue service that is fit for the future – one that responds to changing risks and continues to protect people, communities and firefighters across Scotland.
“We recognise that these proposals represent significant change, and we have listened carefully to the strength of feeling expressed by local communities, our staff and stakeholders throughout the consultation process. That feedback has helped to inform the recommendations now being considered by the Board.
“Our priority throughout has been, and remains, public and firefighter safety. These proposals are focused on ensuring our resources are in the right places to meet risk and demand, while maintaining an effective, equitable and resilient emergency service for all of Scotland’s communities.
“It is important to emphasise that no final decisions have yet been taken. All recommendations remain subject to full consideration and approval by the SFRS Board.”
