Inverclyde's three fire stations rated in 'poor condition'

Fire chiefs have unveiled a new document which outlines plans for the future of the service across Scotland, and they are encouraging members of the public to share their views. 

In 'Shaping Our Future Service: Your Say', SFRS bosses say that changing where stations and appliances are based must be looked at. 

Deputy assistant chief officer (DACO) Stephen Wright, head of service delivery for the West of Scotland, says some fire stations  have been deemed 'not fit for purpose' and require urgent investment to make them safer and more suitable.

Almost half of fire stations across the country have been classed as being in 'poor or bad' condition, and two-thirds of the total SFRS estate across Scotland is more than 30 years old.

Greenock, Gourock and Port Glasgow have all been categorised in poor condition. Port's 'suitability' is meanwhile listed as good, with Greenock's rated 'satisfactory' and Gourock graded poor.

In July last year, the Telegraph revealed that Greenock Fire Station was set to lose at least ten firefighters under plans to introduce a new crewing model, and wider plans to reduce the number of high-reach vehicles.

As the consultation on the estate begins, local man Richard Duncan, a retired deputy commander for Inverclyde, Renfrewshire, and East Renfrewshire, is fearful about what could lie ahead. 

He said: "Greenock has already lost a fire engine on what was originally said to be a temporary basis. If that appliance isn't reinstated, my fear is that the next logical step would be to close a station.

"The property portfolio would be too large to house the number of firefighters and appliances left.

"Greenock was refurbished in 2004 so I think it would be unlikely to close. But it's a very slippery slope."

DACO Wright says the workload of SFRS has altered radically and it is now responding to fewer house fires, alongside an increase in other incidents such as flooding and wildfires. 

He said: "Scotland has changed and so must its fire and rescue service.

"As a national emergency service, we must ensure we have the right resources, in the right place, at the right time."

SFRS has said it will look at how and when resources are crewed when responding to emergencies, and will review SFRS headquarters buildings as well.

Members of the public have a chance to make their views known in an online survey which closes in June. 

But retired deputy commander Mr Duncan is concerned that decisions made will not take local dynamics into account. 

Mr Duncan added: "National decisions are being made without proper local consultation. 

"Strategic managers and officers are making decisions based on statistics without understanding the local geography and the area.

"The survey itself is very generic and the questions are very leading. You don't have the opportunity to give a full, free text answer on all of the questions. 

"The questions have been engineered to elicit the responses they need to allow them to make the changes they want to undertake."

The Shaping Our Future Service: Your Say survey runs until June 30. 

To have your say in the consultation visit https://shorturl.at/knrwT