Have your say on way fire stations are staffed
A CONSULTATION over proposals to change the way fire stations in Harborough and Lutterworth are manned is underway.
Under the present system, Lutterworth and Harborough fire stations are manned by retained crews who maintain normal day jobs which they must drop when a call comes in.
The proposal would see Harborough swap its two retained crews for one full-time crew, with a second retained crew remaining for cover.
In Lutterworth the crew of retained firefighters would be replaced by full-time firefighters.
Firefighters in the full-time crews would work 24 hour periods, split into 12 operational hours and 12 stand-by hours.
During the operational hours firefighters would carry out their normal work as well as responding to emergency calls.
When on stand-by they would remain at the station, not actively working but available to respond to emergency calls.
The new system, known as Day Crewing Plus, was due to be discussed at a meeting of the policy committee of Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service last Wednesday.
Consultation days will be held at Lutterworth and Harborough this month for residents to discuss the proposals with staff.
They will be at Lutterworth’s Gilmorton Road station on Wednesday, January 30 from 6pm to 9pm and on Saturday, February 2 from 9am to midday.
Harborough’s Fairfield Road station will host events on Thursday, January 31 from 6pm to 9pm and on February 2 from 2pm until 5pm.
Joe Tasker, head of training, development and integrated risk management plan for the fire service, said: “The proposals are not a foregone conclusion. We believe that they support a strategy to ensure that the service’s resources are in the best locations to safely serve our community.”
The Mail asked the fire service what would happen to firefighters at both stations.
In response, a statement by Mark Andrew, head of human resources, planning and performance, said: “The service will manage the change in conjunction with the Fire Brigades Union in line with Service procedures. The exact details will be subject to further consultation at the appropriate time.”
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Weather for Market Harborough
Thursday 20 June 2013
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 13 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 12 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: West
