Community council opposes plan to cut Wrecsam's second fire engine

Rhosddu Community Council has declared its strong opposition to plans to halve the number of full-time firefighters in Wrecsam and axe its second whole-time fire engine.

North Wales Fire and Rescue Authority is currently consulting the public on emergency cover across the region. Two of the three options in the consultation involve cutting the second fire appliance in Wrecsam and reducing the numbers of firefighters from 52 to 28.

The motion, which was backed unanimously by councillors, passed states:

"Rhosddu CC understands the financial pressures facing NWFRA faces due to 13 years of austerity. However we deeply regret that the Authority has chosen, as one of its options, to make savings by reducing the numbers of firefighters in Wrecsam from 52 to 28 and axeing the second whole-time fire appliance. This council calls on the Fire Authority to maintain the current levels of emergency cover in Wrecsam."

Community council chair Steve Gittins said: "The council opposed this proposal when it was first put forward in 2016. Since then, Wrecsam has seen thousands of extra houses built, a new super-prison and we still have the largest industrial estate with many hazardous hotspots in the fire authority. We understand the financial pressures facing the fire authority because of 13 years of cuts and austerity. Every public service is struggling to balance budgets under that pressure and the failure of the UK Government to provide funding for the pay settlement it agreed with the Fire Brigades Union has made matters worse. 

"Wrecsam is the busiest station in north Wales and reducing the service in half in terms of frontline staff is part of a package of proposals that we find completely unacceptable. Two of the options involve cutting frontline firefighters by 12% and 19% - with even the Chief Fire Officer stating that the most drastic option is unacceptable to her. We are saying that a 12% cut in staffing is also unacceptable and dangerous.

"We stand in solidarity with our local firefighters, who are always there for us when we need them. We're urging everyone to take part in the consultation by going to https://www.northwalesfire.gov.wales/about-us/emergency-cover-review-have-your-say/ and being clear about the need to retain the current levels of emergency cover in Wrecsam."