Fire service consultation on controversial night cover plans extended after backlash

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

A consultation on changes which include plans to stop manning two fire stations at night has been extended after a backlash.

Following a review, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) announced earlier this month plans to cut 24-hour cover at the stations in Offerton, Stockport and Sale in Trafford.

Under the proposals, they would become 'day crewing' stations with firefighters on call from 6pm in the evening to 8:30am, being called to incidents via mobile phone if required. Try MEN Premium for FREE by clicking here for no ads, fun puzzles and brilliant new features. Service chiefs say the changes would release around £1.1million that could be reinvested in other priority areas such as prevention and more fire engines at other locations.

However, the plans have sparked anger from firefighters and politicians alike. Crews at Offerton station on Lisburne Lane, which is the closest to Stepping Hill Hospital, said in a statement they believed the move could be potentially 'catastrophic.' They say there would be a minimum delay of five minutes responding to incidents and that was likely to be nearer to 10 minutes at peak times when traffic congestion is at its worst. “We feel this is completely unacceptable for council taxpayers 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," they said. “The service will say less is more for the Greater Manchester area as a whole.