The proposed changes follow on from the publication of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service Safety Plan for 2025-30 that outlines the Service’s goals for the next five years.
The Safety Plan is created by looking at the different types of risks in communities, how likely they are to happen, their potential impact and how the Service can adapt to best address these. It includes a commitment to making the best use of resources to ensure the continued delivery of high-quality services without compromising on safety.
Data analysis shows that the Service has resources that are not required or currently used. This has led to the identification of ways to rationalise operational response on the Isle of Wight.
- Combine Yarmouth and Freshwater fire stations to maintain performance. This will allow two fire engines to operate in the west Wight area of the Island by consolidating our people and vehicles at Freshwater fire station. This approach has been used for the past two years due to recruitment and retention challenges in Yarmouth and the proximity of the stations.
- Permanently cease the operational response from Bembridge fire station. There has been no response from Bembridge since 2020 due to lack of available on-call firefighters. During this time, Ryde fire station received investment to increase staffing to a full-time crew.
- Reduce from five Aerial Ladder Platform (ALP) vehicles across the whole service to four. Data shows that removing Newport’s ALP will ensure we still have four ALPs where we need them, including one at Ryde.
Residents will also be able to engage with the Service face-to-face about the proposals at two townhall events in Bembridge and Yarmouth (dates, venues and times to follow).
The proposed changes will also contribute to the Service wide savings plan. Like all other public sector organisations, HIWFRS is facing financial challenges that are likely to continue, and ensuring financial sustainability is essential for long-term success.
Other proposals being progressed:
- A pilot to test the removal of some of the less frequently used fire engines at four of our on-call stations where we currently have two fire engines (Romsey, Waterlooville, Petersfield, Lymington). While these stations will remain operational with one fire engine, we will be removing the second for the next year.
- Introduction of a new type of vehicle that combines the capabilities of a specialist rescue vehicle and fire engine in one. This will mean we can crew the affected stations differently and will mean a reduction in 20 firefighter posts across two stations (Redbridge and Cosham), but this will not result in any redundancies and will be managed through turnover as people leave the Service and through transfers to other stations.
- A reduction in the headquarters senior team by four posts which has already been implemented and now restructuring the number of middle managers across our operational structure.
- A review of our support staff, offering a voluntary arrangement first to avoid compulsory redundancy.
Chief Fire Officer Neil Odin said:
“Every community has different risks, and we want to provide services to address their specific needs. We have used the data from our safety plan risk assessment and carried out some additional analysis to identify areas where the risk levels are not being matched with the resources we currently have in place.
“We are looking to make changes because we need to ensure that we have a modern, fit for purpose and efficient fire service. The changes are about having the right resources in the right place to meet the identified risks in our communities. Public safety will always be our priority and, if you need us, we will continue to be there quickly, with the right people, vehicles and equipment.
“I would encourage people who live, work and visit the Isle of Wight to share their thoughts with us through this consultation, we will consider all feedback carefully before making any final decisions.”
The consultation will run until 29 July