Cuts to Harrogate fire crews would ‘put money before lives’, says ex-firefighter

A former firefighter and now councillor has hit out at proposals to cut the number of night-time fire engines in Harrogate to just one.

Independent councillor Sid Hawke, who worked as a retained firefighter for North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service in Ripon, said the plans would “put money before lives”.

Harrogate fire station currently has two fire engines operating 24 hours a day, but this could be reduced to just one at night under the proposals out to consultation.

Last night both appliances were summoned to fires in commercial bins in Harrogate town centre — this will not be possible if the proposals go ahead.

North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Zoë Metcalfe is asking residents for their views on the plans as part of county-wide proposals, which she said would save over £1.5 million a year – yet she insisted they are not cost-cutting measures.

Cllr Hawke, an Independent member of Harrogate Borough Council and newly-elected mayor of Ripon, said:

“You can’t put money before lives.

“It’s a big town is Harrogate. If there were two shouts at one go, what would the fire station do?

“They could call in support, but that would be from Boroughbridge, Thirsk or anywhere, and somebody could lose their life in that time.”

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Cllr Hawke left the fire service around 10 years ago and said it does not receive the financial support it needs to respond to emergencies quickly. He has called on Ms Metcalfe, a Conservative, to scrap the proposals and instead increase the number of fire engines and staff.

Cllr Hawke said: 

“I don’t care how much could be saved – there is money in budgets elsewhere to be dug into without putting lives at risk.

“I think we need more firefighters – I really do.”

Fire service ‘has changed’

The proposals are detailed within a document which sets out how the fire service will deploy staff and equipment over the next three years.

The Risk and Resource Model has been drawn up based on “extensive risk assessments” looking at the likelihood and severity of emergencies including fires, road traffic collisions and water related incidents.

The document is out to consultation until August 14 and Ms Metcalfe said it reflected a changing role for the fire service.

Ms Metcalfe, who is also a Harrogate borough councillor, said there is higher demand for services during daytime hours in Harrogate and that fire-related incidents now make up a small proportion of what the fire service does.

She said: 

“The role of a fire and rescue service has changed and continues to change, with only 26% of our incidents last year relating to a fire emergency.

“We want to ensure we are addressing our current and future challenges and that we have the capacity to prevent and protect to stop incidents happening in the first place and prevent harm before it can take place, while also having the capacity to respond to emergencies when they do take place.

“We are confident these proposals would do that.”

Sid Hawke to be Ripon’s next mayor

Independent councillor Sid Hawke is to be Ripon’s next mayor.

Cllr Hawke, who previously served as mayor in 2008/09, will replace fellow Independent Eamon Parkin at the annual mayor making ceremony on May 23.

His term will coincide with celebrations for the Queen’s platinum jubilee on June 2 to 5 as well as Ripon Cathedral’s 1,350th anniversary.

Ripon-born Cllr Hawke is a semi-retired window cleaner who has also served as a retained firefighter for North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service in Ripon.

Elected to Ripon City Council in 2002, Cllr Hawke represents the Ure Bank ward on both Ripon City Council and on Harrogate Borough Council.

He lost to Liberal Democrat Barbara Brodigan in last week’s North Yorkshire Council election for Ripon Ure Bank and Spa division.

Cllr Hawke said:

“I am delighted to be nominated by Ripon city councillors in the selection for the position of mayor and I am looking forward to representing the city in this very important year of HM Queen Elizabeth II’s platinum jubilee.”

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The mayor will be formally installed in a service at Ripon Cathedral on July 3.

Cllr Hawke’s wife, Linda, will accompany him on mayoral engagements. Cllr Parkin will be deputy mayor.

The Rt. Revd. Dr Helen-Ann Harley, Bishop of Ripon will remain as the mayor’s chaplain.