Firefighters have hit out at potentially ‘catastrophic’ plans to switch to a ‘day-only’ model at the station closest to Stepping Hill Hospital. Crews at Offerton Fire Station, in Stockport, say the proposals are ‘totally unacceptable’ and would result in longer response times - particularly during the morning and evening ‘rush hour’
It comes after Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) launched a consultation on a new ‘day-crewing’ system that would mean the Lisburne Lane station would only be operational between 8.30am and 6pm. Bosses say these changes - together with similar proposals for Sale - would release around £1.1million that could be reinvested in other priority areas such as prevention and more fire engines at other locations.
They add that the move would mean the station would still respond to incidents that pose the greatest threat to life - such as house fires and car crashes - within 10 minutes. But firefighters based at Offerton - one of four ‘whole-time’ stations in the borough - have issued a statement strongly opposing the proposals.
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They say there would be a minimum delay of five minutes - but this is likely to be nearer to 10 minutes at peak times when traffic congestion is at its worst. One of their ‘biggest concerns’ is that the station is the nearest to Stepping Hill Hospital.
It reads: “Any fire at night would mean a delay of at least five minutes for Stockport town centre’s appliance to attend. Whilst statistics will show the majority of incidents we attend there are false alarms, I would remind you of the devastating impacts that a fire in a large hospital can have.”
It goes on to reference a fire at The Christie back in 2017 - and the ‘devastation it caused both in terms of property and the long term treatment for patients’. “This took hold even with a fire station less than five minutes away,” the statement continues. “An additional five-minute wait could have been catastrophic.”
The service argues that new fire engines at Moss Side and Manchester Central would be an upside the proposals .
But Offerton firefighters disagree.of hese are average response times, therefore for some incidents could be significantly more.
Their statement continues: “We feel this is completely unacceptable’ for council tax payers in the Stockport area, particularly those residents of Offerton, to lose their fire cover for the benefit of another part of the Greater Manchester area.
“The service will say less is more for the Greater Manchester area as a whole. For the residents of Stockport -and particularly Offerton station’s area - a reduction of 50pc of station firefighter posts and delayed response times means less is less.”
They add that 90pc of current station staff would no longer be able to work at Offerton - and would be subject to compulsory moves - as they do not live in the immediate station area.
The proposals have also been criticised by Offerton ward councillors.
Coun Helen Hibbert said: "Despite assurances that we will have coverage from four other stations, within the 10-minute benchmark, one is Marple which is also day-crewed, leaving the whole of the east of the Borough without a manned station after 6pm in the evening. I believe that these proposals will seriously affect residents across Stockport.”
She has called for a GMFRS representative to attend an extraordinary scrutiny meeting, which has now been penciled in for later this month (June 29).
Her Labour colleague, Coun Will Sharp has also written to Kate Green , Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester who has responsibility for GMFRS, asking for an 'urgent meeting'.
William Wragg, Conservative MP for the Hazel Grove constituency, has further misgivings over the plans
“I am concerned about these proposals and want residents to have the reassurance of a fully manned fire station at Offerton,” he said. “I will work to seek to secure this.”
A spokesperson from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority said: “The Deputy Mayor has contacted the councillors to offer a meeting and discuss their concerns.”
The fire cover review and special applications review consultation runs until July 10 and can be found here.
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