Decision to axe 40 Avon firefighters announced to save money

Plans to cut the roles of 40 full-time firefighters have been approved.

The Avon Fire Authority announced the cuts at a meeting with Avon Fire and Rescue on Wednesday, as part of a plan to tackle a budget shortfall.

It means a typical crewing model will consist of four firefighters instead of five.

Dave Roberts, the regional secretary of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), called the plans "dangerous and irresponsible".

The service faces a budget shortfall of £1.9m by 2026/7, which it said is in part down to high pay awards of 7% given in 2022/23 and 5% in 2023/24.

A smaller vehicle fleet for the Bristol area, which would be used to cover non-life critical incidents but will also have firefighting abilities, was approved at the meeting.

The Avon Fire Authority is a legal body and oversees the policy and service delivery of the Avon Fire and Rescue Service, which covers Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.

Mr Roberts added: "This is the time for urgent investment in our service, not even more brutal cuts.

"The FBU will campaign against any threat to public and firefighter safety, every step of the way."

Chief fire officer Simon Shilton told the meeting: "In an ideal world we would not have to make these difficult decisions, but we will not compromise firefighter safety."

He also said that as a result of the meeting, there would be no fire station reductions.

The majority of the posts that will go are expected to come from closing jobs after retirements.

Around 15 members of the Fire Brigades Union were present at the meeting.

FBU Avon Brigade secretary Amanda Mills said: "It is a sombre fact that we ride with crews of four too often already, and the effects are far reaching.

"We will not stay silent while Avon Fire and Rescue service makes do with inadequate funding."

Ms Mills said the plans will make it "even more difficult" for firefighters to do their jobs and residents will be left without adequate fire cover.

"Avon's firefighters will not accept public safety being sacrificed in the name of cost cutting," she added.

Councillor for Yate, Ben Nutland, who is an Avon Fire Authority committee member, told the meeting: "I will hate myself for doing this if we vote for this, but we need more than a one year settlement from government."

Bristol City Councillor Richard Eddy added: "Not a single member wants to make a decision on this.

"We have a statutory duty to maintain a balanced budget and it reluctantly seems to me that the officer recommendation is the least worst option."

The plans were approved with a total of two oppositions and two abstentions over two votes.

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