Scarborough Fire Changes Delayed by Three Years

Proposed changes to the fire service in Scarborough will only go ahead if a similar pilot project in Harrogate is successful.

After three months of consultation with the public, Zoe Metcalfe, North Yorkshire’s Police Fire and Crime Commissioner has made her decisions on how the North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service will continue in its transformation over the next three years.

The Commissioners office say that underpinning these final decisions is the drive to help the public to be safe and feel safe in North Yorkshire and York.

The changes were first proposed to the public earlier this year, detailing how the Fire and Rescue service would seek to deploy its people, equipment and resources based on an extensive risk assessment across North Yorkshire and York, which identified the likelihood and severity of fires, road traffic collisions, water related incidents, and other emergencies.

In Scarborough the plans would see the town get a better second fire engine but only during the day.

It would see Scarborough swap it's lower spec Tactical Response Fire engine for a higher capability Emergency Rescue Engine, but the new second engine would only be crewed during the day.

Following the review the Commissioner has decided to press ahead with a similar scheme in Harrogate and has provisionally approved the changes in Scarborough, but said they will only go ahead after a 3-Year review of the Harrogate changes.

Those changes at Harrogate will see it's Tactical Response fire engine replaced with a larger Emergency Rescue fire engine which will be crewed only during peak hours. The second Emergency Rescue fire engine at the site will remain full-time, which the fire service say will increase capacity and capability to respond to an emergency when demand is at its greatest, as well as improving resilience across the service area.

Consultation with the public consisted of 12 public events at which 1,400 people actively engaged, three resident focus groups and an online survey which received 1,300 responses. Throughout this period Commissioner Zoe put the questions asked by the public to leaders of the Fire and Rescue Service and interrogated their response, scrutinising the detail of the data and evidence set out.

Commissioner Zoe has made approvals, subject to stipulations on some of the proposals, after evaluating the evidence and considering the views and opinions of the public.

Commissioner Zoe said:

 “I have made these decisions to support the transformation of our Fire and Rescue Service based on extensive evidence and from listening to what is important to you, which you said was increasing and enhancing prevention and protection work to stop incidents from happening in the first place”

“During my consultation my office and I had many great conversations across communities, taking the opportunity to listen and discuss what the proposals would mean and how they were in the best interest of keeping people safe and feeling safe. I want to personally thank everyone who attended one of our consultation events and completed the online questionnaire – your views are always important.”

“Some areas of the Service will change, and I know change can be unsettling, but I remain confident that the right people, with be in the right place, with the right equipment at the right time, to support everyone in North Yorkshire and York.”

Jonathan Dyson, Chief Fire Officer said:

    “The Commissioner’s endorsement of the proposals we have presented within our Risk & Resource Model, supports my professional opinion and strategic direction for resourcing to risk. Our strong focus on prevention and protection activities are the primary way for us to reduce risk in our communities. This provides a sustainable commitment to keep the communities of North Yorkshire and the City of York safe and feeling safe.

    “The Service has committed to sustained engagement with our communities, to provide reassurance about the changes that your fire service will be putting in place.”

Full details on the Commissioner’s decisions can be found in the Decision Notice published on her website here: https://www.northyorkshire-pfcc.gov.uk/decision-notices/dn-16-2022-rrm/