Safer Together Programme: Service Delivery Model Appendices
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Opinion Research Services | Devon & Somerset FRS – Safer Together: Independent Analysis of Findings November 2019 Safer Together Programme: Service Delivery Model Appendices Opinion Research Services November 2019 The Strand Swansea SA1 1AF 01792 535300 | www.ors.org.uk | [email protected] Opinion Research Services | The Strand • Swansea • SA1 1AF | 01792 535300 | www.ors.org.uk | [email protected] Opinion Research Services | Devon & Somerset FRS – Safer Together: Independent Analysis of Findings November 2019 Appendix 1 Tables presenting summaries of Written Submissions (letters/reports)1 Summary of main themes raised in written submissions – general views (positive) Number Sub-Theme of times Example Comments raised Agreement with/support for the proposals: general Agree with increase in 5 It is admirable that prevention and education are taking place and protection, prevention and take up a sizeable percentage of the budget education I welcome the proposal to release more capacity for home fire safety visits and safety checks particularly given the increased risk factors of the communities within Mendip A strategic review in this area should be made Generally agree with 2 This committee supports proposals to review and realise aspects of proposals Fire Service delivery Clyst St George Parish Council…accept that a review of the Fire and Rescue Service is overdue, and after 35 years such a review is going to generate a degree of resistance to changes proposed, however our changing lifestyles such changes must take place, both to ensure the safety of the public and to give good value to taxpayers across Devon and Somerset….Clyst St George Parish is not significantly impacted by the proposed changes….we judge that this will not have a detrimental impact on us 1 “We have taken care to ensure that no information that identifies individual respondents has been included in this report. However, where a response has been submitted on behalf of an organisation (such as a Parish Council), we have included the name of that organisation as this is often important for context, but does not compromise individual anonymity.” Opinion Research Services | The Strand • Swansea • SA1 1AF | 01792 535300 | www.ors.org.uk | [email protected] Opinion Research Services | Devon & Somerset FRS – Safer Together: Independent Analysis of Findings November 2019 Number Sub-Theme of times Example Comments raised Agree with proposals to 1 I welcome the fact the Authority and the Unions are working increase number of on-call together to find a solution to increase the number of on-call firefighters firemen during the daytime by better pay and conditions Agree with options 1-4 1 We can…support Options 1,2,3 and 4 without any qualms. Beyond option 4 we found that we questioned the impact on our fellow Devonians Summary of main themes raised in written submissions – general views (negative) Number Sub-Theme of times Example Comments raised Disagree with/cannot support proposals: general Reductions will result in 46 It looks so obvious that closing fire and rescue services is extremely increased danger/risk to risky and stupid and the public do not support the measures which firefighters/general public are up for consultation Perhaps they could tell us, officially, how much is a life worth? Any reduction in the Fire and Rescue Service may cost people their lives The proposals impact more significantly on East Devon than any other area in Devon and Somerset. I’m not convinced that any of the options proposed would ensure the safety of people in the District Recently there was a serious fire in Seaton which impacted upon 17 residents. Would there be such a positive outcome to a similar event if these proposals are implemented? Proposed changes in all seven options will have drastic effect on the safety of visitors and residents in both our parish and across the whole of north Devon Closure of this station will pose a very real risk threat to residents in case of emergency and the parish council feels that it is an unacceptable risk to be forced on the local population …we feel that lives will be put under greater risk under the current options Reducing capacity will result in some areas remaining uncovered by a fire service for significant periods while crews will have to travel further to deal with emergencies Opinion Research Services | The Strand • Swansea • SA1 1AF | 01792 535300 | www.ors.org.uk | [email protected] Opinion Research Services | Devon & Somerset FRS – Safer Together: Independent Analysis of Findings November 2019 Number Sub-Theme of times Example Comments raised Vulnerability – especially in 43 The disabled and frail (whom I believe are recommended to stay in rural/isolated areas their dwellings – windows and doors shut – until help arrives) may be at a disadvantage if too many engines are cut Would those with dementia be exposed to a greater and increased risk? The parish council’s main concerns are the lack of cover for isolated rural properties, some of which have thatched roofs It is only recently that the smaller, more versatile fire engines were rolled out to offer a more responsive service in the narrow Devon lanes. Surely many of those residents would be considered particularly vulnerable and hard to reach if they then lost the fire service? The very nature and topography of this region means that many communities, although on paper not appearing to be many miles apart, are isolated and are difficult to access. Vehicles from a central population hub attempting to respond to an emergency in a rural community will not be able to offer such a rapid response time as more locally based units, leading to rural communities being further disadvantaged For whatever reason, the systematic national destruction of rural communities continues unabated One conclusion may be that your concern for the wellbeing of people living in rural areas is not a priority and may, therefore, be simply downgraded with these people being categorised as more expendable and less worthy of saving by your planners? Can you explain to me why protecting larger conurbations should be to the detriment of smaller or rural communities? This is discrimination of the highest order We live in a very rural area which for the most part is very difficult to get to in the winter months due to the locality and also very busy with tourists in the summer season…if any of these cuts go ahead it will make communities such as these very vulnerable and isolated Devon has one of the largest lengths of road infrastructure in England. There will be other rural counties that might rival Devon for the nature of its narrow lanes but it is probable that a fire appliance in other counties could probably cross that county in half the time or less than it takes a fire appliance to progress half way across Devon Opinion Research Services | The Strand • Swansea • SA1 1AF | 01792 535300 | www.ors.org.uk | [email protected] Opinion Research Services | Devon & Somerset FRS – Safer Together: Independent Analysis of Findings November 2019 Number Sub-Theme of times Example Comments raised Fire and rescue services for Exmoor are currently provided from fire stations on the periphery of a large area of moor and woodland, which contains a number of small towns and villages as well as many remote farming and residential communities. Roads access is often restricted and access times can already be longer than the target response times Exmoor’s population experiences enhanced problems in accessing emergency medical and health care treatment. The involvement of a trained fire crew in co-responding with the Ambulance Service is of particular value … We believe the FRS should review their proposals to take account of the need to maintain and enhance co- responding In 2015 a report was published, commissioned by DEFRA, of an Independent Review of Rural Proofing … Government has supported its recommendations … We believe that the Safer Together proposals should be tested against the principles and methodology of Rural Proofing …all public service providers and relevant voluntary agencies should be working together to focus on the most vulnerable in our communities…I would like to see commitment to partnership working at a neighbourhood level Concern over availability for 40 Ashburton is also adjacent to the A38 and has had to attend a other incidents e.g. RTCs/ number of Road Traffic Collisions over the years flooding/co-responder The station (Porlock) currently carries out a lot of first responder demands actions in addition to the primarily envisaged role of fire response The station is a base for the Porlock Co-Responder service. There is a great concern at the loss of this important community service provided by the fire fighters Then there are Road Traffic Collisions (RTCs) involving high speed impacts resulting in occupants having to be released using hydraulic road rescue equipment The main London to Penzance railway line runs through the area and while this poses a risk, the significant rail risk is associated with Whiteball Tunnel. At 1,000m long this has the potential for a protracted and complex deployment Call outs on the Dart. While this is not part of your statutory obligations, your Integrated Risk Management plan (IRMP) makes clear that the National Framework requires you to asses such risks Opinion Research Services | The Strand • Swansea • SA1 1AF | 01792 535300 | www.ors.org.uk | [email protected] Opinion Research Services | Devon & Somerset FRS – Safer Together: Independent Analysis of Findings November 2019 Number Sub-Theme of times Example Comments raised and decide how to address them. I am not sure that ‘it may be that this is supported from other locations’ is really enough Your breakdown of incidents attended over the last five years shows an overall increase in road vehicle fires, other primary fires and secondary fires.