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Consultation Launched
Title: Consultation for North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service
Date: 08.08.07
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service have announced the latest Community Safety proposals in their recently published 2007 / 08 Corporate Plan. The Corporate Plan sets out the way that North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service intends to achieve its vision of saving an additional one hundred and twenty five lives by 2014. This year, the service is proposing to review the location for one of its busiest Fire Stations and look at the way its Retained (Part Time) Firefighters duty system works.
Retained Duty System Review
There are 39 Fire Stations in North Yorkshire, of which 26 are staffed wholly by Retained Duty Staff on a part time basis. Retained Firefighters operate an ‘on call' system, whereby they may be released from their day jobs in order to deal with a fire or other incident. Firefighters working this system must be able to respond to the Fire Station within five minutes of receiving a call.
Director of Community Safety Chris Anderson says: "The Fire and Rescue service has traditionally recruited from its local communities, which has enabled our Fire Stations to carry out their vital role. Changing life styles and job opportunities further afield often means that recruiting people from local communities, in some areas is becoming a challenge."
The Fire and Rescue service works closely with local employers to ensure that an effective balance is kept between full time occupations and their part time Firefighter roles. Retained Firefighters train once a week, to the same standard as their full time colleagues.
Chris Anderson concludes: "We are committed to ensuring the highest standards for our staff and communities. This review aims to assist in getting the best possible people for the job and making sure that staff working the Retained system are adequately rewarded for their vital work."
Public opinion is a vital part of this process, with local focus groups taking part in consultation. Business communities and members of the public are invited to take part, by contacting their local Fire and Rescue Service Group Manager:
Hambleton District Simon Gibson 01609 751010 Ryedale District Chris Stark 01653 692626 Scarborough District Danny Westmoreland 01723 357790 City of York Graham Buckle 01904 616100 Selby District Roy Ashman 01757 702453 Craven District Jon Foster 01756 692561 Harrogate District Nigel Phillips 01423504082 Richmondshire District Trevor Lund 01748 823343
Fire Station Location - City of York
York is the busiest City in North Yorkshire, with over 4 million visitors annually. The current population is over 180,000 and is set to increase each year with development. The main reason for the review is to provide a Fire Station which meets the needs of our increasing communities.
Resources at the current Fire Station, Clifford Street, York;
In addition the building houses Community Fire Safety and other office administration.
The Clifford Street Station premises are old and are in need of full refurbishment. Formally a chapel it has undergone two major refits, but the site does not meet the needs of a modern Fire and Rescue service.
NYFRS aim to provide the City of York with the most effective:
Director of Community Safety, Chris Anderson says: "We want to enhance our services and opportunities for partnership working. Building a new Fire Station is the best way to achieve this." He continues: "We therefore need to review the location of York's Fire Station and, to ensure we provide the optimum balance of prevention and intervention cover. We are seeking your views to assist us in providing the best service for our communities in the City of York. Public opinion is important to us, if you are willing to help us in this process please contact your local Group Manager."
Copies of the Corporate Plan can be found on our website http://www.northyorksfire.gov.uk/ or paper copies can be requested by calling 01609 788501.
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