A PROPOSAL to save 24-hour fire cover in Winchester has been put forward by firefighters.

The new plan comes after a fiery meeting saw residents and officers raise concerns over cost-cutting measures for Winchester – which could see it have little or no cover at night.

Firefighters say their alternative will provide constant cover and a fire engine available at all times.
Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service have put forward two proposals for Winchester to help save £12.2 million.

The first option would save £518,208 and see the number of immediate firefighters reduced by half from 28 during the day, with no firefighters on station overnight, and the number of on-call firefighters increased from 12 to 14, day and night.

Meanwhile Option Two saves £200,000 less but is the preferred route. It will also see immediate firefighters cut by half, but it does retain two firefighters overnight.

They will use a much smaller ‘fire engine’ with less equipment on board, which firefighters are concerned will be unable to handle emergencies.

One city firefighter told the Chronicle: "Whether it's the cathedral, the prison, the hospital, the uni, anything, it's the same – they would turn up and they would be very limited with what they can do with just two people.


"They wouldn't have the resources, they wouldn't have the backup - we'd just stand there."
Criticising the "embarrassment" of cutting staff at Winchester Fire Station, the newest in Hampshire, he added: "We went up there with room for expansion. They were predicting a crew up there of over 60 – now it's 14."

Hampshire Chronicle:

Winchester watch manager Chris Roper said of the firefighters' 'Option Three': “It works out as £37,000 more expensive than option two, however what you are getting for that is 24-hour cover, where we will be able to crew an enhanced appliance.

“We think our system is better for the people of Winchester as we are providing the service you have now and I think it can save lives.”

The new plan will be looked at in December after the current consultation.

The current proposals came under fire at a public meeting in Stanmore last Wednesday where residents questioned how the smaller fire vehicle in Option Two, crewed by two firefighters, could save lives.

Fire chiefs said it will be using a high-pressure lance until further assistance arrives, which they say will be able to effectively ‘attack’ the fire and reduce temperatures.

One former fire officer said: “You are putting an awful lot of responsibility on two people. What if someone is missing in the building?”

He added: “I thought the fire service was to save lives, and then put out the fire, not the other way round.”

Another resident, called for the service to be more transparent, he said: “I think a lot of people are very sceptical of the idea that you are improving safety by cost reduction.”

The consultation ends on December 4.