Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service is proposing the permanent closure of both Bembridge and Yarmouth fire stations, as well as the removal of 1 of 2 Aerial Ladder Platforms from the Island.
A public consultation on the already well-advanced plans has been launched this week to gather views on the radical changes, which will see the number of fire stations on the Isle of Wight cut from 10 to 8.
The proposed changes follow the publication of the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service (HWIFRS) Safety Plan for 2025-30, which outlines the service’s goals for the next 5 years. It’s said that the cuts are being made due to financial challenges being faced by the fire service, with action being taken to ensure financial sustainability for long-term success.
Under the plan, Yarmouth Fire Station, on Station Road, will be closed, with firefighters and appliances moved to Freshwater Fire Station, 3 miles away. This will ensure that the West Wight continues to have 2 appliances on the run to serve the rural community.
Closing Yarmouth will result in a cost-saving of £108,000 annually, plus additional funds generated from selling the land or leasing out the building.
Bembridge Fire Station on Walls Road will also be permanently closed under the grand plan. The station has been mothballed since 2020 due to a lack of retained firefighters in the village, with investment made at Ryde to make it a wholetime station. The closure will save £135,000 annually, again with the potential to sell off the land to developers.
The situation at Bembridge has been somewhat controversial, given the death of a local resident in a flat fire back in February 2022. The blaze broke out just 100 metres from the fire station, but the nearest appliances came from Sandown and Ryde and took 15 minutes to arrive.
Furthermore, HIWFRS is looking to reduce the number of Aerial Ladder Platforms in the county-wide fleet from 5 to 4, which will see Newport’s ALP removed.
This will leave just 1 ALP to serve the Isle of Wight – with some early concerns raised that sudden breakdowns could leave the Island vulnerable, with the next nearest ALP being more than an hour away. But HIWFRS say just 3 incidents in the past 5 years have required both ALPs.
Elsewhere in the service, a total of 20 firefighter posts are being cut at Redbridge and Cosham fire stations through the introduction of a new type of vehicle that combines capabilities, although there will be no redundancies.
There are, however, redundancies possible at headquarters in Eastleigh. The service is reviewing its support staffing with voluntary arrangements being offered in the first instance to avoid compulsory redundancy.
Cuts are also to be made at Romsey, Waterlooville, Petersfield and Lymington, which will all be downgraded to a one-appliance station as part of a one-year pilot.
Chief Fire Officer Neil Odin has said:
“Every community has different risks, and we want to provide services to address their specific needs. We have used the data from our safety plan risk assessment and carried out some additional analysis to identify areas where the risk levels are not being matched with the resources we currently have in place.
“We are looking to make changes because we need to ensure that we have a modern, fit for purpose and efficient fire service. The changes are about having the right resources in the right place to meet the identified risks in our communities. Public safety will always be our priority and, if you need us, we will continue to be there quickly, with the right people, vehicles and equipment.
“I would encourage people who live, work and visit the Isle of Wight to share their thoughts with us through this consultation, we will consider all feedback carefully before making any final decisions.”
Complete the survey and have your say at https://bit.ly/IOWconsultationM. The consultation will run until 29th July 2025.
Face-to-face engagement events are set to be held in both Bembridge and Yarmouth, with dates and venues to be confirmed.
Fortunately the island does not have any tower blocks
so these stations will not be missed.
Why not close Ventnor instead they never turn out
So the fire Brigade will be working on the ‘fingers crossed’ principle that they don’t need a second Aerial Ladder Platform, even when the only one breaks down and that they will never need the second appliance from Lymington to come over hotfoot on the ferry, despite the loss of Yarmouth altogether and of course they will never have to deal with a heath fire in the New Forest that requires more than one appliance, either, will they? The accountants must be running the show. No doubt said accountants will be fighting fires in person….not.
Consultation is a process that usually, in the definition of the word, takes place before decisions are made. It’s already been decided what is happening.
so, what is the cost to bring all these highly paid fire service officials to come and have tea and cake. Rent a place to have the meetings, turn out a tea “person” (got to be politically correct), and I bet they don’t observe the speed limit on the way here. All a bit pointless and a waste of money, the whole point of the exercise is to save money, should I say that again?
Haven’t they just raised our council tax and doubled 2nd home owners to add money to our police and fire to ensure the existence of our services? Or do councillors’ wages come first!!!!! AS USUAL.
Don’t forget their lucrative pensions.