THE North Wales Fire and Rescue Authority has confirmed that two of the three options proposing cuts to the service have been scrapped.

A report on the response to the recent public consultation was presented to members of the full Fire and Rescue Authority at a meeting held earlier today (October 16).

A total of 1,776 people completed the questionnaire used to gather feedback from those who live, work and travel in North Wales about the provision of emergency cover in the future.

Three options were put to members in an attempt to resolve the shortages, with the public consultation launched to gauge the public's view.

The first option was that full-time firefighters would be put on duty during the day in Corwen, Dolgellau and Porthmadog. The second option would include the above, but cut one of the three fire engines based in Wrexham, with 22 firefighter jobs also to be cut.

Third would include the first two options, plus the closures of Abersoch, Beaumaris, Cerrigydrudion, Conwy and Llanberis fire stations and would result in a total loss of 36 full-time firefighters and 38 on-call firefighters.

All options included removing the night shift at Rhyl and Deeside fire stations, which would leave just on-call staff.

Based on public feedback to the consultation, Fire and Rescue Authority members agreed with the recommendation from the Member Emergency Cover Review Working Group that officers should continue to work on developing Option 1 taking into consideration the points raised in the responses to the consultation, and that the Authority should cease working on Options 2 and 3 presented as part of the Emergency Cover Review.

Dylan Rees, Chair of the Fire and Rescue Authority, said: “I would like to thank everyone who took part in this consultation. We had a great response from people completing the questionnaire as well as attending the public engagement events held across North Wales, in order to record their views on the three options presented within the consultation.

“At the meeting this morning, members of the Authority reported that they felt the consultation had been extremely thorough and had been analysed in detail. Members agreed that as a result of the views expressed during the consultation, the focus going forward should be on developing Option 1 which is the only option that does not include reducing firefighter posts.”

READ MORE: 

Chief Fire Officer Dawn Docx said: “We will now place our efforts and resources on further developing Option 1 and I would like to provide reassurance that we will work with members of the Fire Brigades Union, both on a local and regional level, to find a consensus on the way forward.

“It is heartening that the level of the response to the consultation from all those who took part demonstrates such strength of support and recognises the value of our fire and rescue service. Equally, concentrating on further developing Option 1 going forward offers the potential for improving our services provided to the people of North Wales in the future.”

The final decision-making meeting of the Fire and Rescue Authority will take place on December 18.

The decision to cease work on option two and three means that there will be no cuts to fire engines in Wrexham, much to the delight of campaigners.

Councillor Becca Martin, who set up a petition to fight proposals that would have seen the number of frontline firefighters slashed from 52 to 28 in Wrexham, said: "The NWFRA's decision today to take options 2 and 3 off the table means the most extreme measures to cut one in eight firefighters across north Wales have been effectively scrapped.

"People were horrified at the thought of losing this vital service, especially as Wrexham's fire station takes 50% of all calls across the North. That explains why feelings were so strongly against the plans in the consultation that was held and why the Fire Authority feels it has to withdraw the proposals.

"It feels like a victory for people power and I'm so pleased for everyone who joined our campaign - whether by signing the petition, joining our protest or taking part in the consultation.

"It's not all over, however. Because this was, in part, driven by a lack of funding for a vital emergency service we're going to have to ensure that firefighters don't face this kind of threat in the future."

Duncan Stewart-Ball, Fire Brigades Union regional secretary for Wales said:  "Thousands of people across North Wales have made it clear that they will not accept cuts to their fire service. We've had huge turnout at rallies and public engagement events around this consultation, with our communities standing with firefighters against these proposed cuts.

"Through this mass mobilisation, we have managed to get two of three austerity options off the table. However, we are still facing a serious downgrading of fire cover in Rhyl and Deeside. This will certainly impact fire cover across our region, and still threatens to put lives and homes at risk.

"The inspiring action of the past months has gone to show just how much residents value their firefighters and the service they provide. We will not accept a second-class service in North Wales.

"We need urgent investment to maintain and improve our fire service, to keep our communities safe in the years to come. That's why the FBU is putting forward options for improvement and growth, instead of these downgrading cuts and a downgraded fire service."