Plans to reduce number of fire engines condemned by union

The proposals could result in eight fire engines being cut

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has condemned plans which could result in a reduction in the number of fire engines in Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

FBU brigade secretary Neil Bevan said they were "a serious threat to public and firefighter safety".

But Chief Fire Officer Jon Pryce said all the money saved would be reinvested to improve staffing levels at the busiest fire stations.

The plans are due to be consulted on in January.

They propose removing eight fire engines, but Mr Pryce said the fire service would focus on removing engines which are not used very often and which can suffer from a shortage of on-call firefighters.

In some cases it would be the third or fourth fire engine at a station, which have not been available to respond to an emergency 68% of the time because of the staffing issues.

The proposals also suggest reducing the number of on-call firefighters based at stations which would lose the fire engines.

The result would be "more firefighters on the busiest first fire engines, and better availability of our remaining on-call fire engines", Mr Pryce said.

He also said all the money saved would be reinvested, so they should not be described as cuts.

Overall, Mr Pryce said: "2024 will see a significant investment in our fire engine staffing."

The FBU said it would fight the proposals "to save our service".