A COST-SAVING proposal that would see a fire engine removed from the station in Maryhill has been blasted by a concerned councillor.
Scottish Labour’s Keiran O’Neill has written to Ross Haggart, the chief officer of the Scottish Fire and Rescue service, highlighting fears that the community will be put at risk if the move is rubber-stamped.
The politician’s letter, which has been seen by the Glasgow Times, warns that locals are ‘extremely worried’ by the potential loss of a life-saving appliance and what it could mean for response times in the area.
It says: “I am sure you will appreciate that the proposal to remove a fire appliance from Maryhill Community Fire Station which serves many communities across North Glasgow has caused a great deal of worry among residents. I would ask that any risk assessments related to this decision are published as soon as possible and I would also be grateful to know in specific terms what impact the removal of an appliance from the station will have on response times locally.”
Councillor O’Neill also says that he is concerned any temporary cut could then become permanent – as well as putting jobs on the line.
He added: “While I recognise this proposal is currently only a temporary measure from September, I am sure you will understand there is genuine concern that what is temporary at the moment will become permanent in the future.
“I am also concerned that any reduction in appliances will inevitably lead to firefighters losing their jobs, this would be on top of the more than 1000 jobs in the fire service that have disappeared in the last decade.
“I would urge that SFRS reconsider this course of action and in future ensure there is sufficient and meaningful consultation with local communities if there ever are any changes to emergency services.”
We previously told how there are plans to withdraw three appliances from Maryhill, Cowcaddens and Govan community fire stations later this year.
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Senior fire officer David Murdoch has defended the temporary move, claiming that they will “continue to have a fully crewed first appliance available and measures will be the least impactful way to make cost savings.
At a recent community Safe Glasgow Partnership meeting, he said the situation will be monitored and added that the “number of fire appliances attending any incident will not change.”
Mr Murdoch also says the Springburn Community Fire Station will have its “combined height vehicle replaced with a dedicated environmentally friendly fire appliance.
He added: ““These changes are the least impactful in both the local and national context.”
Fire chiefs say they have identified 10 fire stations where they can temporarily remove an appliance with a minimal impact on response times.
Labour councillor Imran Alam pointed out the Govan station serves the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Ibrox stadium and numerous surrounding tenements, as well as having the M8, M77 and M74 in its vicinity.
He said: “I would like to see the risk assessment taken, including an explanation on how the service would be able to deal with an incident at multiple locations in the area without additional delay.”
We previously revealed that safety on the River Clyde will be at risk with plans to reduce the fire and rescue cover on the water, according to firefighters.
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Crews at Polmadie, which currently has a dedicated boat crew, have raised the fears with a city MSP. Staff are worried that cover on the river will be reduced and crews will not be available to respond to an incident as quickly as they do now, putting lives on the line.
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