STATEMENT ON PONTARDAWE FIRE STATION

Responding to the Fire Authority's decision this morning to continue with the downgrade of Pontardawe fire station from a whole-time station to a day-crewed station, Gwenda Thomas AM said:

"I'm very disappointed that the Fire Authority has this morning taken the decision to downgrade Pontardawe fire station, despite receiving strong representations against such a move from myself as the local AM, by councillors in both the Swansea and Amman Valleys and also by the over 2,500 local people who signed the petition against the downgrade which was organised by the FBU.

"The evidence that has been presented by the FBU to me and to the Fire Authority against the downgrade is compelling. The figures used by the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue service to justify the downgrading of Pontardawe did not seem to include the number of cases where the appliance at Pontardawe is called out to back-up other fire appliances at emergency calls outside of its area of responsibility, such as at the incident a fortnight ago at the Gwyn Hall in Neath. The strategic importance of Pontardawe fire station should have been recognised.

“I will now be seeking an urgent meeting with Dr. Brian Gibbons AM, the Assembly Government minister with responsibility for the fire and rescue services in Wales to see what if anything the Assembly Government can do following this morning’s decision.