Commissioner to face the public over fire service cuts in York

Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Zoë Metcalf wants to hear your views on proposals for North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service, which includes cutting back the service at Huntington Fire Station in York.

She said the proposal to turn it from full-time to on-call “would offer appropriate and safe cover for the community” because it is the least used fire station in the area.

Huntington’s full time firefighters would be redeployed to other stations and its full-time fire engine removed.

But Liberal Democrat councillors for the area say that the Conservative commissioner’s plan is too much of a risk.

“We have had two serious house fires in Strensall in the last couple of years. Luckily, everyone escaped safely, but I worry what would have happened if the crews had arrived four minutes later,” said Strensall ward Cllr Tony Fisher.

The Commissioner will be in Huntington for her first public roadshow event to hear views on proposed changes.

She will be outside Huntington Post Office & Shop this Thursday 9 June on North Moor Road (YO32 9QN) between 10am and 4pm to update residents and hear feedback.

Commissioner Metcalf said:

“It’s my job to set the direction of North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue service and therefore consider the proposals and make a decision.

“Before I do that, I want to know what the public think and I encourage people to come along to one of my roadshow consultation events this summer to speak with myself or a member of my team, and to complete the online questionnaire.”

She is also encouraging people to share their views online by completing the consultation at www.TellCommissionerZoe.co.uk