Emergency Services in the Liverpool City region

[woody]

Mersey Fire and Rescue Service ( MFRS),

New Kirkdale Fire Station, building starts in March.........


Photo Credit: Fireman Gaz (Andy Daley) on Flickr.

New bit of Kit............Hovercraft soon to enter service......


Photo Credit: ScouseFire on Flickr

[kevsy21]

Looks good, where in Kirkdale are they building it? That hovercraft looks good,thanks for sharing.

[Joe the red]

Somewhere on Derby Road

[Howie_P]

Job threats to Merseyside firefighters
by Mark Johnson, Liverpool Echo Feb 10 2011



MERSEYSIDE Fire and Rescue Service is likely to face compulsory redundancies and station closures, as chiefs tackle a fresh round of budget cuts.

The ECHO has learned the force must manage a 25% cut in its £70m budget over the next four years.

It will suffer an £18m hit after the withdrawal of government grants, following the chancellor's spending review. The cuts may even be bigger than 25% and be between £24m and £26m for the financial years between 2013 to 2015.

It could mean the compulsory redundancies of firefighters and the closure of two fire stations.

Also under threat are the free installation of lifesaving devices such as smoke alarms.

The threat of more cuts comes just a week before Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service (MFRS) will set its budget for the coming year.

The service has already been faced with cutting £8.6m over the next two years, which will mean between 162 and 192 staff taking voluntary redundancy.

Today, Cllr James Mahon, vice chairman of Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority, told the ECHO public safety could be in “jeopardy” with more fire deaths probable as cuts dig deep.

Cllr Mahon, 76, said: “We have (already) pruned ourselves down from 1,400 to 900 firefighters. In stage two we’ll have to prune the firefighters down more and close stations.

“This will bring about a situation where the public could possibly be in jeopardy.

“People in deprivation areas will look at anyway to keep warm, using paraffin heaters instead of proper fires. And people tend to use candles rather than electric lights to save money.

“That will bring about a situation where there is more household fires and we will see more fire deaths.

Continues >>

[Mostly Lurking]

Wondered how long it would be before someone copied and pasted in full a negative press story without offering their own opinion on the thread matter

Where will the hovercraft be based and what will it be used for?

[woody]

Originally Posted by Mostly Lurking

Wondered how long it would be before someone copied and pasted in full a negative press story without offering their own opinion on the thread matter

Where will the hovercraft be based and what will it be used for?

ML, not sure were the hovercraft will be based, JL Airport ? south docks or at the Marine Rescue station in King Edward Industrial Estate. I would think it would assist Marine Rescue Rib, particularly at low tide on mud flats from JLA up to Southport in search and rescue operations.

MFRS have over the passed few years have aquired a lot of new Kit......

New SCANIA appliances, Specialised Search and Rescue & Hazmat Units, Quad Bikes, Fire Bikes and Govenment supplied " New Dimension" Vehicles.
with new Fire Stations built and a further 7 to be built this year.

All postive and welcome investment, but I would hate to see any further reduction in numbers or the scrapping of the many life saving schemes that MFRS have introduced.

Lets not forget the RNLI also play a vital role in saving lives along our rivers and Liverpool Bay............









RNLI at New Brighton have a new RIB and a Hovercraft, so despite the "cut backs" here in the City Region we have well trained crews and modern equipment should an maritme emergency occur.

[Howie_P]

Originally Posted by Mostly Lurking

Wondered how long it would be before someone copied and pasted in full a negative press story without offering their own opinion on the thread matter

Sorry ML. I have just trawled all the relevent news stories since the beginning of the year and cannot find a single positive one. This is because all our emergency services here have received a poor settlement from Government (probably the worst in the country) and are not in a position to offset this from local taxes. This is a matter of grave concern as it is inevitable that people will be at greater risk as a result of these cuts. I would suggest that everybody should be doing everything they can to fight them. Library closures etc. may be unwelcome but peoples lives will not be put at risk as a result of them. Any Govt. not adequately funding the Police, Fire, and Coastguard is wholly unacceptable.

[Howie_P]

..

[Howie_P]

Fears continue to grow over future of Crosby coastguard
Liverpool Daily Post Feb 14 2011



NEWLY released documents have done little to calm fears that Crosby Coastguard Station will be shut in favour of Belfast.

Under government proposals the number of coastguard stations around the UK will be slashed from 18 to eight, with only three remaining open 24 hours a day.

Liverpool’s Crosby station is a contender as one of five which would only remain open at daytimes – but is in direct competition with Belfast, with one set to close.

Leaked documents last month showed how Liverpool’s name had originally been left out of the proposals and was only added in at the last minute, leading to fears Belfast would be a shoo-in.

Now newly-released ‘risk assessment’ documents appear to list many more benefits of keeping Belfast open than the Crosby facility.

The document says the Liverpool site “provides long term security of tenure”, includes both a Marine Office and a radio site which would have to be provided elsewhere if it were closed, and is “one of four centres with a geographical relationship with the waters of the North Channel and the Irish Sea.”

But a significantly longer entry outlining the advantages of Belfast is included, saying: “This site could provide a Coastguard presence in Northern Ireland, ensuring a strong interface with the Northern Ireland Executive and Search and Rescue partners on the island of Ireland.”

Continues >>

See also www.dontsinkthecoastguards.co.uk

[Howie_P]

Low Hill fire station

Fire stations for sale in Liverpool
15 Feb 2011, 12:47

Merseyside Fire & Rescue service has instructed chartered surveyors Hardie Brack to sell two properties.

Staff have moved into Merseyside Fire & Rescue's headquarters in St Anne Street, Liverpool, after the properties became surplus to its requirements.

The first property is a 28,000 sq ft warehouse on the Triumph Trading Park in Speke, near the Liverpool John Lennon Airport.

Merseyside Fire & Rescue service used the property to hold fire prevention workshops.

Mark Hardie, from Hardie Black, said: "Whilst this property is some 40 years old, it has been well maintained and periodically modernised by the fire service, providing their workshops until recently. Interestingly, this is where the original TR7 sports cars were made."

Hardie said the asking price is £550,000 but rental deals for an appropriately strong tenant would be considered.

The second property is a purpose built fire station located at Low Hill, just above the city centre approximately 6,000 sq ft in size, providing fire engine garages, offices and canteen, as well as dormitory accommodation and its own car park. The asking price for this property is £225,000.

Hardie said property lends itself to roadside retail, cash and carry or office use, as well as general workshops.

Source: Place North West

Low Hill was replaced by the new fire station in Beech Street, (see the Kensington Neighbourhood Centre thread here).

[Howie_P]

Merseyside Fire Authority cuts 173 jobs over next two years but freezes 2011/12 council tax demands
By Emily Gosden Feb 17 2011



MERSEYSIDE Fire Authority will cut 173 jobs over the next two years - but has frozen its council tax demands for 2011/12.

The number of firefighters will be slashed by 10%, meaning the loss of 92 frontline jobs.

A further 81.5 support and management roles will be cut, representing a 20% reduction in staff numbers.

The Authority said it hoped to avoid any compulsory redundancies, with firefighter job losses based on not replacing staff when they retired.

A voluntary severance package will be offered to all non-uniformed staff.

The Authority blamed "drastic cuts" from central government for the "tough choices" it had had to make.

It warned that much worse could be to come as it faces huge cuts in funding from 2013 that could jeopardise public safety.

Source: Liverpool Echo

[nicksanderson]

Some good news amongst all of the gloom:

MFRS (along with Lancashire and Cumbria) formally signed the agreement for 16 new fire stations accross the region as mentioned earlier by Woody.

7 of the stations are in Merseyside and the building schedule is as follows:

Kirkdale March 2011 – May 2012
Formby March 2011 – May 2012
Newton le Willows March 2011 – May 2012
Bootle/Netherton May 2011 – June 2012
Belle Vale May 2012 – June 2013
Southport May 2012 – June 2013
Birkenhead May 2012 – July 2013


All will be built in the same locations as existing stations and I understand that the Southport station will be a joint Fire and Ambulance station.

The first contractors will be on site next week at Kirkdale.

[Howie_P]

Plans for £4.8m ‘Firefit’ campus in Toxteth
by David Bartlett, Liverpool Echo Mar 1 2011



MULTI-MILLION pound plans to create a new sports centre and fire station in Toxteth have been unveiled.

The £4.8m project will see Toxteth sports centre completely rebuilt with a new sports hall, fitness suite together with a climbing wall, multi activity room and dance drama studio.

Merseyside Fire and Rescue will get a new fire station as part of the plan.

The campus will be known as “Toxteth Firefit”, and builds on partnership between the city council and fire service which has seen fitness equipment installed in some fire stations for use by local residents.

Cllr Ann O’Byrne, cabinet member for the youth service, said: “This is an exciting and innovative project which will create top quality leisure and youth facilities as well as putting Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service at the heart of the local community.

“The existing sports Centre is looking tired and in need of major investment and this scheme will breathe new life into the whole site.”

The project will be funded by a £2.3m grant from the lottery’s Myplace scheme, together with £500,000 from the city council.

The fire service is contributing £2m to relocate to the Upper Hill Street site from its present location on Upper Park Street.

Continues >>

[Babaloo]

Sounds good - the existing centre does look a bit weather worn. It's a pity these buildings are so slab like though.

[Howie_P]

Public meeting to be held on possible Crosby coastguard closure
by John Siddle, Liverpool Daily Post Mar 2 2011



A PUBLIC meeting on the future of Merseyside’s coastguard will be held tonight.

An independent panel will discuss controversial plans to shut the Crosby station at Southport Convention Centre, at 7.30pm.

Around 30 jobs are at risk if an independent panel agree to shut the station, which serves the coastline from North Wales to Cumbria, along with nine others.

The public meeting about the proposed coastguard modernisation takes place at Southport Theatre and Convention Centre, on the Promenade.

A Maritime and Coastguard Agency spokesman said: “The meeting will provide an opportunity to hear more about the proposals, ask questions of MCA representatives and air their views.”

The meeting is expected to draw to a close by 9pm.

Liverpool Daily Post

[openlyJane]

From what I understand the government has re-considered this ill-found proposal - a bit like the 're-consideration' on selling off the forests. Good news! Hopefully.

[Howie_P]

£68,000 to train flood rescue teams in Merseyside
by Liam Murphy, Liverpool Daily Post Mar 7 2011

MERSEYSIDE Fire and Rescue service will be given £68,000 to set up and equip two specialist emergency flood rescue teams.

The cash from the Government department for environment, food and rural affairs (Defra) will be used to train them to deal with local flood emergencies. Announcing the new funding, environment minister Richard Benyon said: “In the event of a large-scale flood, it is important that we can call upon manpower and equipment from a wide range of emergency services and voluntary groups.”

He said the grant will help pay for vital flood rescue training and items such as rescue boats. All the equipment bought with the Defra funding will be added to the National Asset Register of flood rescue resources that emergency services across the country can call upon in the event of a major flood.

Last summer, Merseyside Fire Service dealt with numerous incidents caused by localised flooding after heavy rain fell across the region. Control operators took around 80 calls in three hours on July 20 as the rainfall left some streets deluged.

Source: Liverpool Daily Post

[Howie_P]

Originally Posted by openlyJane

From what I understand the government has re-considered this ill-found proposal - a bit like the 're-consideration' on selling off the forests. Good news! Hopefully.

Decision on Liverpool Coastguard station put back to May
by Ian Hernon, Liverpool Echo Mar 11 2011

COASTGUARDS must wait until May for the Government to decide whether or not to shut down the Liverpool station.

Shipping minister Mike Penning revealed that the consultation period, which had been due to finish on March 24, has been put back for another six weeks.

The delay, due to be confirmed on Monday, comes as the Crosby-based operation is competing with Belfast to win one of five new regional sub-centres across the UK.

It sparked speculation that ministers, previously expected to pick Belfast, may be rethinking the options after a ferocious Merseyside backlash.

Source: Liverpool Echo

[openlyJane]

Driving along The Strand on Saturday we noticed an emergency vehicle - 'Confined Space' rescue vehicle. Never seen that before - does anyone know what they are used for?

[woody]

Originally Posted by openlyJane

Driving along The Strand on Saturday we noticed an emergency vehicle - 'Confined Space' rescue vehicle. Never seen that before - does anyone know what they are used for?

I have never seen one with those graphics, was it a MFRS vehicle?

The "New Dimension" vehicles do have a POD which carries "confined space " rescue kit, this is part of the Urban Search and Rescue equipment. The USAR vehicles, which are MAN Prime Movers carry various PODS manned by crews from Croxteth.

MFRS carried out a MUD FLAT RESCUE exercise down at Liverpool sailing Club.
The new Hovercraft arrived being towed by another new bit of kit,a "all terrain rescue unit". I found a few photos on Flickr............







Photos: By Aigburth l 17
The new kit is still arriving at MFRS Bootle workshop, a very impressive MAN
4X4 Responce Unit.





Photo: Andy Daley
Despite the looming cuts, MFRS continues to invest in new equipment, the saving of lives must always come first.