Shrewsbury will keep its fire engines

Shropshire and Wrekin Fire and Rescue Authority will not now be getting rid of a fire engine from either Shrewsbury or Telford, thanks to a better-than-expected financial position.

Officials had been planning for cuts of up to £1.9 million, but now only require about £0.9 million of savings following changes such as being able to raise council tax by a higher-than-expected margin.

In a unanimous vote at Shrewsbury Fire Station yesterday, fire authority members also agreed that four rural fire stations – in Baschurch, Hodnet, Prees and Clun – will be spared, saving more than 50 jobs.

Shrewsbury currently has two full-time fire engines and one on-call engine. Telford Central has two full-time engines, Wellington has a full-time fire engine and an on-call engine. Tweedale has one on-call vehicle.

The proposed cuts were an attempt to balance the fire authority's books between now and 2020. Authority chairman, Councillor Stuart West, told the meeting that while he was delighted the stations engines would be staying, both proposals may have to be looked at again in the future.

The fire service is to raise its council tax precept by 1.99 per cent from April and is still considering merging its fire control room service with Hereford and Worcester's, to save £300,000 per year.

It is also planning changes to its full-time shift systems to generate up to £400,000 savings. The proposals will now to go out for consultation.

Another £450,000 savings have been identified through reducing provisions for future ill-health retirements, cutting the budget for occupational health support and the overall budget for support staff.

The fire service is anticipating making about £900,000 of cuts by 2020, on top of the £3.2 million it has removed from its annual budget since 2010.