May 6, 2016 2.19 pm This story is over 94 months old

Lincoln Council sets fire service cuts meeting amid shift pattern concern

Lincoln city councillors have called a public meeting to air concerns about proposed cuts to the Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue service. Lincolnshire County Council plans to save £1.67 million over the next three years through a series of proposals, including downgrading Lincoln South Fire Station. The change in shift patterns would mean firefighters are only on the…
The council received a number of petitions following Fire Service cuts to Lincoln

Lincoln city councillors have called a public meeting to air concerns about proposed cuts to the Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue service.

Lincolnshire County Council plans to save £1.67 million over the next three years through a series of proposals, including downgrading Lincoln South Fire Station.

The change in shift patterns would mean firefighters are only on the base during the day and on call within five minutes at night.

The plans have sparked a number of protests in opposition, and this week a petition totalling 4,000 signatures was handed in at the council offices.

City of Lincoln Council’s Community Leadership Scrutiny Committee will consider the potential impact of Lincolnshire County Council’s cost-saving measures at a meeting on Thursday, May 12.

Residents are invited to attend the meeting, starting at 6pm in the Alive Conference Centre, in Newland, to hear the discussion, which will inform the council’s response to the consultation.

Councillor Karen Lee, chair of the committee, said: “We understand that, as part of Lincolnshire County Council, Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Service is not immune to the financial challenges we are all facing in the public sector.

“However, members wish to consider the potential impact of the proposed changes on residents and businesses in Lincoln, in order to give an informed response to the consultation with the city’s interests at heart.

“We are particularly concerned about changes to the shift pattern at Lincoln South, and the impact this reduction in cover might have on the city.”

The outcome of the meeting will inform the response to the consultation from the council.