Published date: 12 September 2016 |
Published by: Rory SheehanRead more articles by Rory Sheehan Email reporter
COMMUNITY leaders on an estate blighted by arson are horrified Wrexham could lose one of its two fire engines.
The North Wales Fire and Rescue Authority (NWFRA) needs to cut almost £1 million from its budget by 2019/20 and has proposed to cut one of two full-time appliances at Wrexham station, resulting in the loss of as many as 24 posts.
A public consultation on the proposals is being launched by the service this autumn to gauge feedback.
But at this month’s Caia Park Community Council meeting, members were aghast at the prospect of losing half the appliances in the town.
The police statistics for August showed there had been four reports of arson in Queensway, including furniture, a plastic sign and a hedge being set on fire, another hedge arson in Whitegate, and another arson in Smithfield.
Council chairman Marc Jones said: “I feel strongly, especially as in Caia we have had our fair share of issues with arson, which is ongoing as seen in the police report tonight. Cutting one of our two engines could have a drastic effect on Caia and Wrexham.
“When you’ve got a huge problem with arson, a growing population, a new prison on the way, cutting the service by 50 per cent doesn’t make sense.”
Smithfield councillor Jayne Johnson said: “I think it’s quite important, especially when they are to build and expand the whole area. We will be left with no fire brigade cover.”
Cartrefle councillor Bryan Pritchard said: “Is it going to be a case of one day doing away with it altogether and people having to pay for a private service? Totally disgusting.
“It’s scary because these decisions are made by someone with a pen and
paper.
“It scares the living daylights out of me.”
Queensway Cllr Carrie Harper said lives would be risked by an increase in response times.
“If we are left with one engine, if it is in Llangollen and there is a fire in Wrexham, what happens?”, she said.
“Response times are going to be ridiculous and will put lives at risk.”
Members unanimously passed a motion urging the NWFRA to reconsider the proposals.
The motion read: “Wrexham’s fire services are already dealing with 43 per cent of all North Wales arson and a large proportion of the road traffic accidents across the North.
“As community councillors, we are very aware of the work being done in terms of fire prevention that needs enhancing to pro-actively stop fires, but there will always be a need for a comprehensive emergency service that has the firefighters and appliances available to deal with any incident.
“This proposal comes at a time when £15m has been spent on a brand new combined station in the town with the ambulance service.
“This makes even less when you consider that the Welsh Government is anticipating a 20 per cent rise in the borough’s population over the coming years and the new prison opens in 2017.
“Both will inevitably mean more work for our fire service.
“This council calls on the NWFRA to scrap its plan to cut Wrexham’s fire service and supports proper funding of this essential emergency service.
“This council also resolves to ask other community councils in the Wrexham area to support the motion.”
An online petition started by Cllr Jones can be found at www.gopetition.com/petitions/dont-scrap-wrexham-fire-engine
see-http://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/166554/councillors-on-estate-blighted-by-arson-horrified-by-potential-fire-engine-loss-to-wrexham.aspx
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