Call for fire service bosses to guarantee future of Greenock engines

Independent councillor Tommy McVey and Labour representative Colin Jackson have raised concerns that Inverclyde residents who stay in one of the area’s many high-rise or tenement buildings could wait longer to be rescued in the event of a fire.

The pair’s warning follows the bombshell news at the start of summer that Greenock stands to lose at least 10 firefighter posts under controversial new Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) plans.

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The ‘temporary’ changes will also see changes made to the crewing model for the local station’s high-reach vehicle.

Under the current proposals, Greenock's aerial rescue pump (ARP) will become a dedicated height vehicle crewed by two members of staff.

The two elected members say they have been told that further cuts could follow the already announced plans and that Inverclyde’s high reach cover could be seriously impacted as a result.

Councillor McVey said: “I am now hearing that an SFRS review of high reach appliances across Scotland could have serious implications for Inverclyde. 

“I understand there is a proposal to reduce the number of high reach pumps in Scotland to 14. 

“As a matter of urgency, the SFRS need to confirm that the Greenock high reach pump will be one of the remaining 14.

“Anything less would be unacceptable given that Inverclyde has 13 high-rise buildings and a significant amount of tenement properties.  

“Simple arithmetic tells us that should this proposal go through, then each of the 14 remaining pumps will have to cover a far bigger area.

“For example, the Greenock high reach pump could be called away to deal with an incident in West Dunbartonshire. 

“Should an incident occur here in Inverclyde which also required a high reach pump then that would have to come from elsewhere. 

“Whatever way you cut it there will be an increase in response times and a further risk to life. 

“We need clarity on this from SFRS, if something happens that makes response times go up the risk to life is going to go up as well.”

Sam Wilson, a tenement resident in Greenock’s east end and housing campaigner, said he would have serious concerns about any changes that could affect the number of high-reach appliances or firefighters available.

He added: “You’ve got to have the manpower and you’ve got to have the equipment to respond to incidents.

“It’s a cost-cutting exercise.

“Any cut like this will increase the danger to residents in places like this.

“I would imagine people in Broomhill or any of the local high rises would be shocked if they knew the ins and outs of what’s being planned, especially the pensioners who can’t get out the house.

“How would you get these people out of there if you didn’t have the men to do it?”

Fire service chiefs were quizzed by councillors about the proposed changes at an emergency meeting of the local authority’s police and fire scrutiny panel in July.

Members of the Fire Brigades Union also gathered outside the council buildings to protest against the cuts.

Councillor Jackson claims the SFRS hasn't listened to the views of frontline firefighters.

He said: “This review is all about cuts and finance, it’s not about public safety.

“They’ve not released the data behind this review and there’s not been any consultation.

“The frontline firefighters are saying there’s a risk to them and there’s a risk to health and safety.

“They are having their concerns completely ignored and this will affect public health and public safety.

“My area is predominantly made up of tenements and high-rises and any cut to the high-reach appliances will have serious consequences for the safety of residents within Broomhill and other similar places.”

SFRS say all of Greenock’s three appliances would remain operational and that it is extremely rare for a high reach appliance to be used for a rescue from height in a fire-related emergency.