Shake-up for fire service

THE number of firefighters in Oldham could be cut and 999 response times slower as part of sweeping changes being discussed today.

Plans have been drawn up to shake up services across the region as Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) needs to save £23 million over the next four years (2012-15).

Proposals include:

::Cutting Oldham Fire Station crew numbers from 11 on 24-hour duty to 10.

::Keeping Hollins Fire Station crew numbers at five but lengthening target response times to seven minutes and losing its special incident unit appliance.

::Cutting Chadderton crew numbers from nine on 24-hour duty to eight during the day and only five at night.

Two other stations which also cover the Oldham area could also see changes. Mossley Fire Station will see no change to crew numbers but response times lengthened from seven minutes to up to 17 minutes, as well as the loss of its specialist water ladder appliance. Ashton will see crew members cut from 11 on 24-hour duty to seven during the day and 10 at night.

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Authority (GMFRA) was meeting today to approve the plans and start a 12-week consultation with staff, partners and Greater Manchester residents.

The consultation period will last until January next year and responses will be considered by the authority before a final plan is approved.

Steve McGuirk, County Fire Officer and Chief Executive, said: “People already know we have a major budget reduction to contend with, which amounts to £9.3 million in the first two years, which may rise to £23 million in the second two years.

“Clearly this means we can’t stay the same. The corporate plan sets out how we think we can still provide an excellent service while reducing the budget. Local people, our partners and indeed our crew need to understand what that means. I’d encourage everyone to let us know what they think.”

In addition, people in different areas can expect firefighters to get there quicker or slower depending on where they live, due to the differing levels of risk in those areas.

Mr McGuirk added: “People should remember that thanks to our prevention work the number of incidents has reduced by almost 50 per cent in recent years. The new system would provide more targeted cover in ‘hotspot’ areas where incidents are more likely to happen.”

For more information visit the website at www.manchesterfire.gov.uk.


Emergency services in ‘disarray’

GREATER Manchester emergency services are in disarray due to a change in national targets implemented by the Government, an MP has warned.

Blackley and Broughton MP Graham Stringer told the Commons a stroke victim had to wait an hour for an ambulance, the response time of the fire service has doubled in parts of Greater Manchester, and the police switchboard is in meltdown.

Speaking in Prime Minister’s Questions he said: “What reassurances can the Prime Minister give that the failure of those services will not lead to a tragic death?”

Under current guidelines, category A ambulance calls — which include the most serious life-threatening conditions — should be responded to within eight minutes.

But in April this year the Government scrapped the 19-minute target for category B — or not immediately life threatening — calls.

David Cameron replied: “I will give careful consideration to what Mr Stringer has said.”

Also in PMQs Oldham West and Royton MP Michael Meacher also called for think-tanks to be included on any future register of lobbyists interest following the Liam Fox scandal.