Consultation document nonsense from Devious & Secretive Fire & Rescue Service

Under the heading "Why we need to change", we are told: "With large new housing estates planned in areas such as Cranbrook near Exeter, Sherford in Plymouth and Taunton Garden Town bringing large population increases and changes, we need to respond to these changing risks."

On the face of it a reasonable point, until you realise that 
None of the proposals improve protection for these locations!

Sherford – No proposals to improve the response and protection already cut in the area

The population increase at Sherford will be about 12,500, yet they previously downgraded Plymstock and Plympton, the two nearest fire stations, from Immediate Response (firefighters work shifts on duty at the fire station) to On Call (firefighters who have other jobs and must travel to the fire station from home or work when an emergency call is received). This means it takes longer for the fire engine to respond, if they have crew available. If they don't, it means an even longer wait for a crew to arrive from another fire station. 

Latest figures show the Plympton fire engine, on average,  is not available 14% of the time and Plymstock's is not available for 13% of the time. That is equivalent to around 7 weeks each. Two fire engines and an aerial appliance were also removed from Plymouth permanently and the second fire engine at Crownhill was changed from Immediate Response to On Call. This one is not available for 25% of the time, equivalent to 13 weeks. When you realise that not available times can coincide, you realise that the wider Plymouth area can be left with just four fire engines instead of the previous nine. 

Plymouth population increased by 12,500, but less fire engines available

Taunton Garden Town – Proposals to cut the response even further

The population increase at Taunton will be nearly 30,000. One fire engine at Taunton was previously changed from Immediate Response to On Call crewing. Now they plan to completely remove one of the fire engines in Taunton, and to remove another one from Bridgwater, which is the nearest back up to the developments on the north-east side of Taunton. Incredibly they also propose to mothball the second fire engine at Wellington during the day. Wellington will be the nearest back up to the developments west of Taunton.

Taunton population increased by 30,000, but less fire engines available

Cranbrook – Proposals to cut the response even further

Now D&SF&RS will no doubt claim that moving one fire engine from Topsham to Middlemoor will improve the response to Cranbrook. Now it is true that Middlemoor is a couple of miles nearer, but there is no guarantee they will be able to recruit On Call firefighters at Middlemoor. If they do, there is no guarantee how often that fire engine will be crewed. At Topsham they have a trained crew for that fire engine and it is available nearly all the time.

The proposals also include cutting the second fire engine at Topsham, which will leave the Exeter area with just four fire engines. Previous cuts reduced that from six. It is also worth noting that the second and third crews to arrive at the Royal Clarence Hotel fire were from Topsham, as the two Immediate Response crewed fire engines were at another incident.

Exeter population increased by 18,000, but less fire engines available

You have to wonder about the credibility of those who set out why they

'have to change', but then only propose to make things worse!