Agenda item

Moved by Councillor Milne, seconded by Councillor Venner.

Councillor Milne asked Councillors as a matter of urgency to approve this motion, asking Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Authority to remove Porlock Station from their list of potential stations to close for a number of humanitarian and environmental reasons. Members would have seen that the consultation document offers the Fire Authority Members seven options to make a more efficient and effective service. The first six options are conflated development building on option one, which recommends the closure of seven Devon Stations and one in Somerset, Porlock. Last Thursday the Devon and Somerset consultation team visited Porlock Village Hall. Over 400 people attended the meeting, all deeply concerned and indeed frightened by the reduced cover that was on offer. Members may have seen aspects of the meeting in the media. At the conclusion of the meeting I handed a petition to the Fire Authority with over three and a half thousand signatures opposing the closure. There is no reason why rural communities should accept a less capable service than the urban areas, particularly as we pay the same level of taxes to the Fire Authority.

Specifically, the population of Porlock District is around two thousand people. Unusually, compared to Somerset as a whole the proportion of the population over 60 is around 25%. The average for Somerset is 11%. Many of these people have mobility issues and are not as fleet of foot as they once were. They are vulnerable. I mention the Porlock Fire Crew, expected in most of the properties within their area of responsibility within ten minutes. Last year they were at 85% readiness, a remarkable achievement. Clearly the response time for remote properties will be longer but simple logic says that if the start point is closer they will be quicker to arrive.

Devon and Somerset Fire Service propose that the cover will be provided by two engines stationed at Minehead which they claim will arrive at Porlock inside sixteen minutes. How can they expect to achieve this with a lumbering vehicle on narrow roads filled with tourist traffic and slow moving vehicles, not to mention going up Porlock Hill. Standard practice is two engines to despatch to a House fire, and more if it escalates. Less than two months ago there was a fire in Minehead and the second Engine could not be manned and a smaller vehicle provided secondary cover from Porlock. In May 2014 there was a serious fire in the village which took Minehead Crew a not unreasonable twenty five minutes to arrive. Lives and property were saved by the quicker arrival of the Porlock firemen.

Last year Porlock Fire Crew were nominated as the top Fire Station in Devon and Somerset. It has four volunteers waiting to be enrolled to the requisite crew of twelve. I think you would agree this is a remarkable achievement for a retained crew which costs only £50,000 per year. Other than the permanent population visitor numbers increase each year during the tourist season. In 2017 there was a 6.2% increase in visitor numbers from the previous year. There is no evidence in the consultation document to take account of this seasonal population increase. In Porlock, 20% of the properties are for rental or second home. In the holiday periods these are full and greatly increase District Risk Profile over the winter months. As a consequence of the increased tourism, the number of Road Traffic Accidents sadly increases on Exmoor’s Roads. If Porlock Hill is blocked, the A39 is closed until it is clear. A rapid response is needed not only to save life but to keep communications open. Whilst not a statutory duty, the Station provides an important co-responder service to the Community. When ambulance arrival times can be up to an hour, co-responders arrive much more quickly and there are numerous examples.

We are aware of the disastrous effects of Climate Change and the ever increasing warmth of our summers. Exmoor is vulnerable. Fires need to be put out quickly and to stop them getting out of control. The last thing we need is a Saddleworth Moor situation. Porlock Fire Station has specialist moorland firefighting capabilities which they are able to deploy quickly and stop fires. Porlock has been identified for flash flooding and many of the new builds have been identified in that zone. There is no evidence to suggest that future resources will be fully manned. The consultation document states that those threatened with closure are low risk stations. No one knows where and when the next call will be. Porlock is as likely as any other Station. I ask you to support this motion in recognition of the very real concerns of the community and the environment that surrounds us.

Councillor Venner stated that the Consultation closed on Friday 20^th September. He urged Councillors and all the parishes to download the consultation form from the website and submit it individually to the Fire Service. It effects everybody in the District and not just Porlock. We needed to thank the Fire Service Staff for the work they do on our behalf.

During the discussion of this item, Members made comments and asked questions which included:-

·       Concerns were raised that the addition of the second part of the motion diluted the effectiveness of the Motion and could make it seem more political.

·       It was raised that the Fire Service had a healthy reserves balance and so this could not be laid at the feet of central government cuts.

·       It was raised that as the incidence of wildfires was increasing as a direct result of Climate Change, the loss of Porlock Station would be detrimental in tackling this effect.

·       It was suggested that a Member Briefing or a Scrutiny Session on the formal consultation from the Fire Service should be planned before the closing date.

·       It was commented that West Somerset had higher proportions of residents with additional needs as elderly or disabled and this proposal would impact them.

·       It was commented that an additional 6500 people entered into Minehead every weekend on top of the resident population that was not recognised.

The Council was therefore recommended:-

1.     A letter is written to the Chair of the Devon and Somerset Fire Authority expressing this Council’s opposition to the closure of Porlock Fire Station and the impact it will have on the surrounding rural areas.

An amendment was proposed by Councillor Booth and seconded by Councillor Hunt as follows;

1.     A letter is written to the Chair of the Devon and Somerset Fire Authority expressing this Council’s opposition to the closure of Porlock Fire Station, the proposed removal of fire appliances from Taunton and Wellington, and the potential for these cuts to be followed by reductions in numbers of whole-time firefighters across the district, particularly in rural areas.

2.     A letter is written to both the District MPs from the Leader asking them if they oppose and seek a reversal of the reduction of 25% in Government funding to the Devon & Somerset Fire and Rescue Authority which makes the cuts, with replies reported back to the Council.

The amendment was accepted by the original proposer Councillor Milne.

The substantive motion as amended was thus put and was carried unanimously.