key proposals

• eight fire stations to close
• affected staff redeployed or offered "flexible" contracts
• no compulsory redundancies
• new stations in new ash green, herne bay, ramsgate and medway
• new vehicles, including rapid response units

by Martin Jefferies

Eight fire stations in Kent are set to close after plans for a
shake up of the county's fire service were published.

Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) intends to close stations in
Halling, Horton Kirby, St Margaret's, Sturry, Matfield,
Queenborough, Rusthall and Seal.

Hythe could also lose one of its engines.

However, no firefighters will be forced to take compulsory
redundancy.

Instead, KFRS plans to redeploy them to neighbouring stations or
offer "alternative flexible contracts".

It also plans to open new stations in New Ash Green, Herne Bay,
Ramsgate and two in the Medway Towns.

Rapid response units, 4x4s and quad bikes could be used to
respond to certain incidents, in a bid to save money and improve
emergency response times.

The shake up comes after KFRS was told to expect a major cut in
the amount of money it receives from the government – thought to be
in the region of £12 million over the next three years.

Firefighters are also attending fewer fires and other
emergencies, with a 25% drop in call-outs since 2005.

Sorry, this video asset has been removed.

Video: Ann Millington,
chief executive of KFRS, talks about the proposed changes

Ann Millington, chief executive of KFRS, said: "We understand
the public worry about any change to their local fire service and
that's often based on a belief that a single fire station looks
after their town or village.

"In fact, emergency cover is delivered on a countywide basis. To
do that effectively, we must have stations in the right locations
to best meet local need."

Despite the
need to make savings, KFRS will recruit around 80 new firefighters
this year. It will also purchase 21 new fire engines at a total
cost of around £4.8 million.

Ms Millington says the expenditure will be met by
streamlining back office staff and cutting management.

She added: "If we are to keep local people safe then we can't
remain fixed in time. We need a service designed for the 21st
Century needs of Kent and Medway. That means a flexible approach to
deal with changing local needs, well-equipped firefighters and
stations located in the right place."

Kent currently has 84 fire engines but KFRS says it needs a
maximum of 76 to deal with a major incident.

The organisation will ask local people and staff what they think
of the proposals when a consultation is launched on October 31.
This will run until January 16, 2012, with a final decision
expected the following month.