Fire stations at risk in budget cuts

Fire chiefs are considering closing fire stations in Rotherham as they try to slash £9 million from their annual budget over the next four years.

The possibility of shutting three stations is among a list of money-saving options drawn up by South Yorkshire Fire Service to help it deal with a 25 per cent cut in Government grant funding.

The fire service is recommending that fire authority members agree at a meeting on Monday to the following moves:

Slashing control room staff numbers to save £300,000.
Changing fire station rosters so that fire officers arrange their own shifts, saving
£2.17 million.
Removing the three back-up vehicles, saving £1.26 million.Reducing the size of pump crews from five to four firefighters, saving £2.66 million.
Also under consideration but not recommended are:
Closing up to three stations which have not been identified, saving £1 million per station annually.
Close proximity firefighting, where night shifts would be covered by volunteer firefighters living near stations.
Scrapping the separate Technical Rescue Unit at Dearne, saving £560,000.

A fire service spokesman said: “Officers have been asked to research all the possibilities for working more efficiently without affecting the service received by the public.

“A number of possible options have been identified and these will be presented to members for their consideration.”

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