Consultation Into Kent Fire Services

5 January 2011, 00:00

The public have only a few weeks left to give their views on Kent Fire and Rescue Service’s (KFRS) plans for the future and proposed improvements.


 
The proposals include:   
 
·         From 2012, KFRS will not automatically attend Automatic Fire Alarms (AFAs). Fire engines will only be sent when a genuine incident is reported. AFAs have accounted for almost 30,000 calls over the past five years but only 0.3% have resulted in actual firefighting action.
·         The decommissioning of Chatham and Gillingham Fire Stations with both crews and one fire engine moving to Medway Fire Station which will improve the guaranteed availability of appliances from two to three.
·         The closure of Thanet Fire station with its crews and specialist appliances moving to other parts of the area which will improve the guaranteed availability of appliances from three to four.
·         A new station for Ramsgate and two new stations for the Medway towns. When these are built, the current sites at Medway and Ramsgate will be sold.
·         A review of Community Safety work which will, in future, target the most vulnerable members of the community and change the way firefighters and CS staff conduct this work
 

The public can get involved in shaping the future of the Service by looking at the full “Towards 2020” report and filling in the online questionnaire on our website or for a paper copy, contact via our email: irmp@kent.fire-uk.org or by calling 01622 692121. Questionnaires must be completed by 17 January 2010. 

As well as asking members of the public to complete a survey, KFRS is hosting events on 5 January 2011 at Sainsbury’s, Kingsmead Road, Canterbury; 7 January Westwood Cross Shopping Centre, Broadstairs and 11 January at the Landmark Centre, High Street, Deal all aimed at providing important information on key plans and gauging the public’s views on them.

The outcomes of the consultation will then be considered by Kent and Medway Fire and Rescue Authority at its meeting on 16 February 2011. It is at this point that the proposals will be either approved or rejected by Elected Members. No changes will occur until this decision is made.