Torbay’s MP Kevin Foster has welcomed news Devon & Somerset Fire Service is not pushing ahead with plans to scrap overnight full-time fire cover at Paignton Fire Station.
The news follows a major campaign run by local firefighters and supported by thousands of residents calling on Devon & Somerset Fire Service to rethink plans in their “Safer Together” proposals to downgrade Paignton Fire Station to “day crewing only”. This would have seen Paignton Fire Station manned only by on call firefighters at night, leaving only one full time crew on duty in the bay, based at Torquay Fire Station, overnight.
The second engines at Paignton & Torquay Fire Stations will continue to be covered by on call Firefighters as now. Although Fire Service management is still recommending the Fire Authority press ahead with a proposal to remove the third engine, operated by on call firefighters, at Torquay Fire Station.
The outcome of the Fire Service’s recent “Safer Together” consultation will be determined at a meeting of the Devon & Somerset Fire Authority on Friday 10th January 2020. During the consultation period on the plans Kevin distributed 10,000 leaflets and over 4,000 surveys to Paignton residents alerting them to the plans.
Kevin said: “The proposal for Paignton was wrong from the start and I am relieved this is not being pushed ahead with. Since it was announced thousands of residents got behind the campaign to keep Paignton Fire Station “Full time” overnight and made their views known. I am pleased they have been listened to, although I am disappointed the responses were not enough to recommend keeping the third engine at Torquay.”
ENDS
Notes
- Details of Consultation:
You can find details of the papers which will be considered by the Devon and Somerset Fire Authority on their website by following this link:
