North Wales plan to axe firefighters and stations abandoned

Plans to axe firefighters and close some stations have been abandoned by the fire authority.

It follows a public consultation over the cost-cutting measures that provoked protests and threats to strike.

A total of 1,776 people responded to the consultation, contributing to North Wales Fire Authority's decision not to reduce firefighters.

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) said Rhyl and Deeside were still facing a "serious downgrading" of cover.

Three options formed the proposals being examined.

The first would see night shifts removed at Rhyl and Deeside stations, leaving only on-call staff to respond to 999 calls.

Another included removing one of three fire engines based in Wrexham and cutting the number of firefighters.

A third involved a combination of the first two, as well as closing Abersoch, Beaumaris, Cerrigydrudion, Conwy and Llanberis fire stations.

This would have resulted in the loss of 36 full-time firefighters and 38 on-call firefighters.

The fire authority said it will seek to develop option one, with a final decision due on 18 December.

Fire authority chairman, Dylan Rees, said work to develop that should take into consideration points raised in the consultation.

He said after a meeting on Monday: "The focus going forward should be on developing option one, which is the only option that does not included reducing firefighter posts."

The FBU welcomed the removal of two of the three "austerity options", but said it was facing a "serious downgrading of fire cover in Rhyl and Deeside".

FBU Wales regional secretary Duncan Stewart-Ball said investment was needed in the fire service.

"That's why the FBU is putting forward options for improvement and growth, instead of these downgrading cuts and a downgraded fire service," he said.

Becca Martin, a councillor who organised a petition against the Wrexham proposals, was delighted the "extreme measures" were no longer being considered.

"People were horrified at the thought of losing this vital service," she said.

In Gwynedd MPs Liz Saville Roberts and Hywel Williams, and Senedd members Siân Gwenllian and Mabon ap Gwynfor, called the news an "immense relief" for communities served by Llanberis and Abersoch fire stations.

North Wales fire chief, Dawn Docx, said option one had "the potential for improving our services provided to the people of north Wales".