Plans to overhaul the fire service have led to threats of a strike by firefighters in North Wales. On Saturday, over 100 demonstrators protested against the proposed changes in Wrexham. The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has expressed concern that the plans would lead to a poorer service in towns and cities. North Wales Fire Service has said it will meet FBU leaders to discuss alternatives to the proposals.
In recent years, the service has struggled with staffing in rural areas, where on-call firefighters often work other jobs. As part of its proposal to address the issue, the service wants to deploy full-time firefighters during the day in Corwen, Dolgellau and Porthmadog. However, managers say this will require money to be saved elsewhere.
Between now and 30 September, the public in North Wales are being asked to contribute their opinions on three options laid out by the fire service. One of these options involves the removal of night shifts at Rhyl and Deeside stations, leaving just on-call staff to respond to emergency calls. Another proposal entails the removal of one of three fire engines from Wrexham and a reduction in the number of firefighters. The third option features a combination of the first two proposals, as well as the closure of five fire stations, leading to the loss of 36 full-time and 38 on-call firefighters.
Stuart Stanley, North Wales FBU chairman, said that while the service was providing better rural fire cover, it was doing so at the expense of cover in the region’s main towns and cities. Cerith Griffiths of the FBU warned that the closure of fire stations could lead to an exacerbation of wildfires in the area. The fire authority has received over 1,200 responses to its consultation, including the views of those opposed to the closure of fire stations
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More