HAMPSHIRE Fire and Rescue Service (HFRS) has this week defended plans to remodel many of its stations after criticism from campaigners in a neighbouring county.

A consultation under way is offering residents a chance to have their say on the future of the service after the publication of proposals to create a more “relevant and efficient” service by changing crew models and vehicle provision.

These plans were approved last month by the service’s governing body, Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority, and are now out to a formal 12-week public consultation that will run until Friday, December 4.

Over the past 18 months HFRS has undertaken a comprehensive review in the face of a potential £16million Government funding shortfall over the next four years.

While the Planning for a Safer Hampshire review doesn’t foresee any of HFRS’s 51 stations closing, it does outline a raft of changes to personnel and equipment and plans for Alton include saving £42,000 a year by reducing the number of on-call firefighters and altering vehicle provision.

While HFRS maintain that these changes will both save money and improve efficiency, ultimately to the benefit of all concerned, critics have described the proposals as “misleading” and said they could result in diminished coverage and response times.

West Sussex Fire and Rescue Stop the Cuts has urged residents not to be “deceived by claims of improvements”.

“We went through a dishonest consultation on fire service cuts in West Sussex last year,” its spokesman added.

“Predicted increases in deaths and property damage were hidden, and several unfounded assurances were given. The cuts took effect in April and it is now clear, as predicted, that the assurances were false.”

Retired firefighter Tony Morris added: “The half-truths and unfounded claims of ‘improvements’ in the Hampshire proposals are very similar to those we saw in West Sussex. Assurances about response times, fire engine availability, and fewer fires have all failed to materialise. Some response times have trebled, availability has got worse, and building, vehicle, and chimney fires all increased last year.”

Alton Fire Station serves a population of more than 31,400, is currently home to two large “enhanced” vehicles and is staffed by 20 “retained” firefighters on-call 24/7. HFRS estimates that availability is at 98.7 per cent and average first response time is 10 minutes 47 seconds.

The proposal is for the station to change to what’s known as an “ABC Level 4” status which will see it house one “enhanced” and one first responder vehicle, with a slimmed down staff of 14 on-call firefighters.

Under this new model HFRS said the availability is expected to remain the same, with an improved first response time of 9 minutes 31 seconds. However, Stop the Cuts described the claim as “a deception” because “the current response time is for proper fire engines with crews of at least four firefighters”, whereas future response times “will often be for a converted van with just two firefighters” which, while capable of handling 70 per cent of calls, cannot deal with the “most serious and incidents”. Ultimately, as a result of the changes, Stop the Cuts says response times for “a proper fire engine, with a proper crew” would be “significantly longer”.

Mr Morris went on to outline a number of “serious misleading claims” in the proposals. He said: “Claims about response times, the capability of smaller vehicles and crews, not compromising safety, and about risk are all less than honest.

“I would urge people to listen to the firefighters who, day in and day out, come to your aid, as they understand how damaging these proposals will be. They really are concerned about your safety, unlike the fire authority who are only interested in cutting the budget. Tell the fire authority the cuts are not acceptable.”

Hampshire’s deputy chief officer, Neil Odin, agreed that the proposals are “significant” but said the “safety of the public and of our firefighters remains our absolute priority”.

“A lot of work has gone on to ensure that the service will still be able to respond in a quick and efficient way to various types of incidents whilst still being able to cover large scale incidents.

“We are aware of some concerns which have been raised from residents across the border in West Sussex regarding our proposals and we encourage all Hampshire residents to give us their feedback on these proposals by taking part in this consultation, either through our website or by attending a public meeting.”

To comment on the proposals visit www.hantsfire.gov.uk where there are also details of upcoming public meetings in Winchester on Wednesday, October 14, and Basingstoke on Monday, October 19.