The Westminster government intends to cut it’s funding to Avon Fire and Rescue Service by £5 million during the course of this parliament. This amounts to a cut of over 20%.
In an attempt to meet the funding shortfall, Avon Fire and Rescue Service is currently consulting on proposals that would:
• See the loss of 49 frontline firefighter posts
• Remove full-time night cover from Yate fire station
• Cut the immediate response of vital aerial appliances from Bath and Weston Super Mare
• Reduce the availability of the heavy rescue tender from Avonmouth
These cuts will compromise the ability of local firefighters to provide lifesaving emergency response. If the cuts go ahead Avon will have lost over 200 firefighters since 2010, out of a total of just 680.
