We plan to permanently cease operational response from Bembridge fire station. Since 2020, Bembridge fire station has not provided an operational response due to lack of available firefighters. During this time fire cover has been provided by nearby fire stations. Therefore, evidence suggests we can continue to respond and support the people of Bembridge with other fire engines, prevention and protection resources.

The reasons we can permanently cease our response out of Bembridge fire station:

• Bembridge fire station has not attended calls on its own station ground since 31 May 2020. The operational cover for this area is being successfully provided by Ryde (which is now continuously crewed 24/7with immediate response by full time firefighters) and Sandown fire station on call firefighters.
• Bembridge experiences a low number of incidents, averaging only 35 per year over the last five years. Of these incidents, only one involved property fire. This low incident rate indicates that maintaining an operational fire station in Bembridge is not the best use of resources, especially when nearby stations can cover these calls efficiently.
• Recruitment efforts over previous years have not identified any successful applicants for the Bembridge station and our detailed analysis shows that Bembridge will remain a very challenging location for recruitment, with, for example, 43% of the resident population being over 65, which is the highest level of any current station in the Service.
• There are currently no people employed at Bembridge station and therefore there will be no adverse impacts on our people.

We have concentrated our prevention efforts in Bembridge, conducting more Safe & Well visits per 1,000 residents in Bembridge than in any other location on the Isle of Wight. We will continue to enhance our prevention and protection activities to support and increase community safety.

By permanently stopping operations out Bembridge, it would allow us to remove £135,000 from the budget annually.

By freeing up an under-used station and underutilised station, the fire authority can consider various options for the property, including selling or leasing it for alternative uses. This may further contribute to additional savings from the land or site.