Cost-cutting plans vote
Life-saving equipment could be moved from Newcastle to Washington under plans being considered by fire chiefs.
Cost-cutting measures are due to be voted on by the Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Authority on Monday, in the hope of saving more than £3million.
Proposals announced last year had raised the prospect of one of the brigade’s heavy rescue units being moved from its Newcastle Central station to Wallsend.
But following suggestions submitted by staff, this is now set to be moved to Washington instead.
Assistant Chief Officer Alan Robson said: “As part of the staff consultation, it’s come through that there might be an alternative to doing that, which would be to relocate it to Washington.
“It meets our criteria for the move of that particular vehicle and actually assists, to a certain extent, with staff training.”
The suggestion of moving the heavy rescue unit is one part of a package of three separate proposals which, if all were approved by the fire authority, could save a total of £3.322million.
It would also see the loss of 70 roles – although fire chiefs have insisted they expected to be able to shed these jobs without needing to make any redundancies.
Bosses have defended moving the equipment from Newcastle to Washington due to improved access to the region’s main roads, such as the A1 and A19.
Washington Fire Station is also less than two miles from the Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service HQ and training centre, meaning it could be more easily used for staff training.
The original plan would also have required alterations to Wallsend Community Fire Station.
“It meets our criteria for the move of that particular vehicle” ALAN ROBSON