Petition Launched Against Fire Service Cuts Across Hampshire and Isle of Wight

A petition protesting a ‘£1.6 million’ cut to ‘frontline’ Hampshire and Isle of Wight fire and rescue services has gathered hundreds of signatures.

Launched by Fire Brigades Union (FBU) regional secretary Mark Chapman, the online appeal says the cut ‘risks pushing a service already on its knees into critical failure’.

The move follows the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service’s (HIWFRS) proposal of major service changes, including the possible closure of two stations in Bembridge and Yarmouth.

Mr Chapman’s Megaphone.org.uk plea entitled ‘Stop, think and reassess dangerous cuts to firefighter numbers’ has so far attracted 470 signatures.

It says:

“More than 15 years of cuts have left fire and rescue services across the UK dangerously under-resourced.

“In Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, this has already resulted in shortages of firefighters and fire engines.

“Firefighter numbers across the UK have been slashed by over 12,000 since 2010, stripping away vital capacity.

“Now, HIWFRS leaders propose a further £1.6 million cut from the frontline – a move that risks pushing a service already on its knees into critical failure.

“We cannot – and must not – allow further cuts that would knowingly compromise public safety and the ability of firefighters to respond when lives are on the line.”

He told the press:

“The Island has seen a progressive decline in the number of firefighters, equipment and a significant degradation in the building stock provided to accommodate and train firefighters and fire appliances.

“This has resulted in attendance times increasing by a minute in just the last five years alone. In an industry where every second counts, this continued degradation in resources and people trained to respond poses a significant risk to local communities.”

Rob Cole, assistant chief fire officer at HIWFRS said:

“Our priority will always be the safety of our communities and of our firefighters. In developing our proposals for change we have carefully reviewed our community risk levels against our resources.

“HIWFRS is facing financial challenges. The costs of delivering our services have outpaced the funding we receive.

“Without an increase in government funding, fire and rescue services have no choice but to find ways to make savings, but we will always seek to do that in a way that ensures we can continue to reduce risk and respond to emergencies as quickly and as effectively as we can.

“We welcome views on the proposed changes and are engaging with our firefighters, staff and the unions on all our proposals. We also have a public consultation underway in relation to the changes for the Isle of Wight.”

The petition can be found here: https://www.megaphone.org.uk/petitions/stop-think-reassess-dangerous-cuts-to-firefighter-numbers?source=rawlink&utm_source=rawlink&share=86bef269-698c-4458-b0e0-6494a7024c5f.

HIWFRS’s public consultation on its proposed changes can be accessed here: https://www.hantsfire.gov.uk/community/engagement-hub/iow-consultation/