Future of Fire Service questioned

There could soon be no more retained firefighters in Wiltshire as the service reacts to cuts in funding. The information was extracted from the Fire And Rescue Service by Devizes councillor Nigel Carter, who asked if it was true that retained firefighters were currrently earning less than the minimum wage, and that full-time firefighters were only being given one-year contracts.

The reply to the question admits that the service is to be re-organised, and unrealistically states that the service will deliver, "the same or improved levels of response" despite reduced funding.

An internal consultation is currently underway, and there will be an opportunity for the public to have their say in a wider consultation beginning on March 5th.

Referring to the retained firefighter system the response to Cllr Carter states, "Although this system has worked well in the past, it is no longer sustainable in the long term because of the significant demographic and societal changes that have taken place over the years."

The twelve month contract is said to have been offered to firefighters who wished to move from retained to full-time status. The spokesman for the Service goes on to promise that there will be no reduction in the number of fire engines or fire stations in the Wiltshire and Swindon area.

For the full Q/A see http://cms.wiltshire.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=130&MId=6107&Ver=4 and go to Agenda Supplement 1, p111.