The Fire Brigades Union has responded to today's North Wales Fire and Rescue Service's announcement that the Fire Authority has agreed to scrap two of three options for proposed cuts to the service. This follows months of campaigning led by the Fire Brigades Union.
The remaining option outlines cuts that will reduce fire cover, particularly impacting Rhyl and Deeside. A decision on these plans will be made at the Fire Authority meeting on 18 December.
Duncan Stewart-Ball, Fire Brigades Union regional secretary for Wales said:
Thousands of people across North Wales have made it clear that they will not accept cuts to their fire service.
We've had huge turnout at rallies and public engagement events around this consultation, with our communities standing with firefighters against these proposed cuts.
Through this mass mobilisation, we have managed to get two of three austerity options off the table. However, we are still facing a serious downgrading of fire cover in Rhyl and Deeside. This will certainly impact fire cover across our region, and still threatens to put lives and homes at risk.
The inspiring action of the past months has gone to show just how much residents value their firefighters and the service they provide. We will not accept a second-class service in North Wales.
We need urgent investment to maintain and improve our fire service, to keep our communities safe in the years to come.That's why the FBU is putting forward options for improvement and growth, instead of these downgrading cuts and a downgraded fire service."
