No axe for Balmossie says chief

BALMOSSIE Fire Station does not face the axe, the chief of Scotland’s national fire service has confirmed.

It has also been revealed controversial plans to move an ambulance and a patient transport vehicle from Monifieth Health Centre to Balmossie will go ahead in September.

Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) chief Alasdair Hay said there were “no plans” to close the station and confirmed the two emergency services had agreed to share the facility.

The plans for the shared location were revealed in February while concern had frequently been raised that Balmossie, the only fire station in Dundee with retained staff, could be closed.

Fears were again raised recently when the SFRS launched a consultation on its future operation which included potentially building new stations and “disposing of others”.

That prompted councillors from all parties in Dundee to call for assurances from the fire service that no stations in the city will be closed.

Mr Hay, who is to retire in March, said: “I can assure you that we have got no plans to close the station. Absolutely none.

“The reason this question comes up frequently is because we had two consultations in the past about Balmossie.

“The future of the station is further strengthened with the announcement that the Scottish Ambulance Service is set to move there i n September to work alongside our colleagues.”