The downgrading of Helensburgh Fire Station to an on-call service during evenings and weekends has sparked outrage, with local MSP Jackie Baillie labelling the decision as 'dangerous.' The move is part of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service's (SFRS) Service Delivery Review, which affects 30 areas across Scotland.
Details of the Downgrade
Helensburgh's South King Street station is one of four—alongside Hawick, Cumbernauld, and Milngavie—that will transition to a 'day-shift duty system.' The SFRS states the change is necessary to address issues with reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) at these sites, enabling remediation work and station upgrades.
Under the new system, the station will no longer have full-time crew coverage but will rely on on-call firefighters during evenings and weekends. This has raised concerns about response times and safety in the region.
Political and Union Backlash
Jackie Baillie, the Labour MSP for the area, criticised the decision, arguing it could impact the nearby Faslane naval base and increase risks to the community. She said: 'It appears that there has been a complete failure to listen to the views of local firefighters. This change will increase response times and present an increased risk to our community.'
Baillie added that only 41 out of 326 public consultation responses supported the move, suggesting the review is more about cutting budgets than safety. She blamed the SNP government for delaying the decision until after the election.
The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) also condemned the cuts. John McKenzie, Scottish regional secretary of the FBU, stated: 'The service has already lost almost 1250 jobs since its formation in 2013, and these proposals will result in more posts going unfilled, stations closed, fire appliances withdrawn, response times increased and a downgrade of fire cover—all of which will result in greater risk to lives, property and the natural environment.'
It is estimated that between 12 and 17 firefighter posts will be redeployed to areas such as prevention and training as a result of the changes.
SFRS Defends the Review
SFRS chief officer Stuart Stevens defended the Service Delivery Review, calling it a 'critical programme to modernise how we work and deliver long-term sustainability.' He emphasised that the primary purpose is to address emerging risks and urgent property issues, while ensuring long-term financial viability.
Stevens added: 'We recognise that this process has been challenging and, at times, emotive for our staff and communities where changes are proposed. There have been extensive efforts to engage with staff and communities to fully understand their views.'
The SFRS maintains that the changes are the start of a strategic redesign to improve outcomes for communities across Scotland.
