Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service Newsdesk

at 03/01/2012 16:02

Members of the public are being given an opportunity to have their say on Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service (CFRS) plans to improve emergency fire cover across Camborne, Pool, Redruth and Hayle.

CFRS currently reaches approximately 44% of the population within these towns and surrounding villages within a 10 minute emergency response time. By relocating Camborne and Redruth’s community fire stations, fire crews could reach up to 15,000 more people (approximately 65% of the population) in the same area within 10 minutes of an emergency call.

A combination of increased population levels, expanding towns, new road networks and 50 year old existing facilities has prompted the move by CFRS, which believes the improved response times made possible by the new community fire stations, will ultimately protect lives.

With several potential locations for the new community fire stations now identified, CFRS wants to hear views from members of the public.

Paul Walker, Deputy Chief Fire Officer for CFRS, said: “The evidence we have demonstrates that moving the two existing community fire stations from their current locations improves our service and delivers agreed savings without cutting frontline services.

“Providing one community fire station in the Camborne, Pool and Redruth area and one in Hayle will significantly improve our emergency response capability in this area and increase our capacity to target and deliver our community safety resources in the areas of most need.

“Before we make any final decisions however, we want to hear from local people. Their views are important to us and will influence and help shape our detailed proposals.”

The new facility for the Camborne, Pool and Redruth area would provide a community fire station crewed by both full time and ‘On Call’ staff on a 24/7 basis. The proposal does not represent a reduction in fire cover as the same number of fire engines and specialist appliances will be available in the area.

The complex project also aims to relocate a number of critical support services, including Fire Control, Lifeline, Training and Workshops, as well as providing a new headquarters for the service in the area.

Hayle Community Fire Station will be crewed by ‘On Call’ staff on a 24/7 basis and potentially shared to form a tri-service facility, with South Western Ambulance Trust, Devon and Cornwall Constabulary and CFRS working together under one roof.

DCFO Walker added: “At present, Camborne Fire Station – our busiest station - responds to incidents in the Camborne and Hayle area.

“When the full time crew at Camborne are called out to an emergency, the ‘On Call’ crew from Camborne, Redruth or another local community station are brought over to Camborne to maintain a reasonable response time to Hayle. Using the example of Redruth providing this cover, the crew are then covering an area from Hayle to Redruth. Our solution to build a new community fire station in the Camborne, Pool, Redruth area and one in Hayle would mean fire crews are in the best location to reach more people in our local community within the 10 minute response time.”

The public consultation will run from Monday 16 January to Monday 9 April and the findings presented at a meeting of Cornwall Council’s Cabinet in June 2012.

More information on the consultation will be available at www.cornwall.gov.uk/fire from Monday 16th January, by emailing consultation@fire.cornwall.gov.uk or by writing to Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service, CPRH Consultation Response, Old County Hall, Truro TR1 3HA.