Hamilton hearth station: session on second equipment proposals

Everlasting withdrawal of the station’s second engine is among the choices, together with returning the equipment on a dayshift foundation

(Picture: Hamilton Advertiser)

The present momentary withdrawal of one of many home equipment at Hamilton hearth station might turn out to be everlasting below service evaluation proposals – with a public session train now set to happen later this summer time.

Hamilton’s second hearth engine was withdrawn in September 2023 amid finances cuts, with the Bothwell Highway station turning into one in every of 10 throughout Scotland the place equipment cowl was decreased because the Scottish Fireplace and Rescue Service (SFRS) addressed an £11 million deficit.

Now two proposals are being really helpful for session – both for the present momentary association of Hamilton having one 24/7 equipment to be made everlasting; or for the second equipment to be reintroduced and crewed as dayshift from 8am to 6pm.

Hamilton has now had just one hearth equipment based mostly on the city’s station for practically two years. It stays staffed 24 hours per day, seven days every week, and hearth service officers clarified: “There is no such thing as a choice to alter Hamilton’s equipment from 24/7 cowl.”

The potential proposals require approval from SFRS board members earlier than going out to public session, anticipated to happen from late subsequent month.

SFRS space commander Jim Quinn, the native senior officer for Lanarkshire, mentioned: “We’re at present within the midst of a service supply evaluation, which goals to make sure that our assets – our employees, stations and home equipment – are matched to operational danger and demand throughout Scotland.

“We have now now concluded an choices appraisal and growth course of, and a lot of change choices have been really helpful to progress to public session in the summertime. This stays topic to remaining approval by the SFRS board.

“Any everlasting adjustments to our station footprint or how we ship our companies will solely come after we have now sought views from the general public and a remaining resolution has been made by the SFRS board.”

Labour chief Anas Sarwar and Hamilton by-election candidate Davy Russell have written to first minister John Swinney and group security minister Siobhian Brown demanding that they “step in and put a cease to reckless plans to completely downgrade Hamilton hearth station”.

They requested “what evaluation has been performed on the impact of any proposed cuts and how one can assure public security is not going to be in any approach compromised”, and wrote of their letter: “Duty for this resolution finally lies along with your authorities, and you could intervene to halt these plans and maintain the individuals of Hamilton and the broader space secure.

“Cuts to the variety of hearth vehicles or firefighters danger undermining public security and can’t be rushed out with out correct session and consideration. Comparable cuts are being thought of elsewhere within the nation and there have been critical warnings in regards to the injury they might do.

“You need to not ignore these sounding the alarm in regards to the probably catastrophic penalties of those cuts. I hope you’ll arise for Scotland’s hearth companies and shield communities like Hamilton by stopping any damaging downgrading.”

Mr Russell mentioned “These reckless proposals put my group in danger and I’ll oppose them each step of the way in which. The individuals of Hamilton want a neighborhood hearth service they’ll rely on – however the SNP has stood idly by whereas our hearth vehicles and firefighters face cuts.

“I hope John Swinney will step in and put a cease to those cuts, however finally our group deserves higher than this failing SNP authorities and its managed decline.”

Mr Sarwar mentioned: “As soon as once more native communities are being put in danger by SNP incompetence. The SNP has inflicted years of brutal cuts to fireplace and rescue companies and now we’re seeing the implications. John Swinney should do proper by individuals in Hamilton and scrap these harmful plans.”

A Scottish Authorities spokesperson mentioned: “The allocation of assets, together with gear and home equipment, and the administration of the property is an operational matter for the Scottish Fireplace and Rescue Service (SFRS).

“This 12 months’s finances contains £412.2m for the SFRS – a rise of £18.8m, which incorporates a rise from £43m to £47m in capital funding.”

Hamilton’s authentic momentary equipment withdrawal in September 2023 noticed the variety of firefighters based mostly on the city’s station scale back from 45 to 30. A complete of 2000 individuals signed an internet petition towards the transfer and South Lanarkshire Council wrote to the chief hearth officer and Scottish Authorities following the choice.

Fireplace officers advised the Hamilton Advertiser at the moment: “We are going to at all times keep hearth cowl and proceed to attend each emergency. We’re arrange based mostly on historic danger and demand and should match our nationwide community of assets to the place they’re wanted most. We have to modernise our service to make sure we’re greatest positioned to guard the individuals of Scotland.”

SFRS carried out a survey final 12 months in search of views on how the emergency service ought to look sooner or later, and famous “altering group danger”, together with highlighting that the service now responds to fewer home fires however extra incidents of flooding and bigger, extra intense wildfires.

Public session will happen forward of any remaining resolution for Hamilton and some other station.

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