Plans to cut one of Malvern’s two fire engines are set to be reversed.
A resource review launched by Hereford and Worcester Fire Authority last year recommended the removal of eight on-call fire engines from stations across the two counties.
The proposals also called for the axing of 45 on-call firefighters and an increase in the number of full-time firefighters.
The authority meets on Wednesday (June 26) at Wyre Forest House Council Chamber to decide on the proposals.
And according to documents published ahead of the meeting, changes have been made to the proposals based on a public consultation process.
This saw more than a thousand residents fill in questionnaires, 28 people attend focus groups and Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service hold formal discussions with 202 fire service staff at affected stations.
Written submissions were also entered by a number of organisations including Malvern Town Council.
The original proposal set out plans for Malvern Fire Station’s ‘second’ engine to be cut, something district council leader Tom Wells said would “strip the fire and rescue cover in Malvern to the bone”.
But following the consultation, the engine appears to have been given at least a temporary reprieve - although the authority still needs to make a decision at the meeting on Wednesday.
The document states: “In response to feedback received an amendment is proposed, which is to maintain Malvern’s second fire engine, for a period of two years, after which a review of availability and numbers of incidents attended will be conducted.
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“The second fire engine will be a compact fire engine. Upon completion of this review after a period of two years, a recommendation will be presented to the fire authority for further consideration.”
The impacts of the resource review could still see fire engines cut at stations in Worcester, Wyre Forest, Redditch, Droitwich, Leominster, Bromyard and Hereford.
Speaking in December, Neil Bevan of the Fire Brigades Union said the proposed cuts presented a “serious threat to public and firefighter safety”.
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