"Urgent action needed to reduce fire risk" - Kirsty Williams

11.53.27am UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 17th Aug 2006

Welsh Liberal Democrat AM for Brecon and Radnorshire, Kirsty Williams, has expressed her concern that constituents in Ystradgynlais are being put at unacceptable risk because they are inadequately covered by current fire service provision.

The problem of providing cover for the area emerged at a recent meeting with the Mid Wales Fire and Rescue Service.

Ms Williams said: "It seems that when the Fire Authority was carrying out its modelling exercise to determine if Pontardawe Station could be reduced to a day-crew station, they discovered that even with the whole-time crews they currently employ, an unacceptable number of 'at-risk' households could not be reached within the 10 minute response target.

"Obviously, this will be extremely concerning news for the people of the Upper Swansea Valley. I know the Fire Authority is currently weighing up a variety of options, but I would urge them to act quickly to reduce this level of risk by increasing resources at Abercrave Station, or by building a new station in Ystradgynlais, which would be better able to serve the needs of the population."

Notes:

The Mid and West Wales Fire Authority recently published its Draft Risk Reduction Plan 2007-2010. One of the options it had been considering was downgrading Pontardawe Fire station from wholetime crewed, to day-crewed (with retained fire fighters providing cover at night). Following a risk modelling exercise, however, this proposal is being re-assessed, with other options being considered related to risk reduction in the Upper Swansea Valley. The Authority is therefore proposing that the station remains wholetime crewed in 2007/08, while these options are analysed.

The particular problems relating to Ystradgynlais were revealed to Ms Williams at a recent meeting she had with the Fire Service to discuss the Plan.

Higher risk fire areas are identified using a variety of measures, including certain societal factors (e.g. areas with high levels of rented accommodation, older people living on their own, properties in poor physical condition). Many households in the Ystradgynlais area have been identified as being at higher risk, and so it is particularly concerning that they would not be reached within the 10 minute target in the event of a fire.