THERE are fears that cuts to the fire service in Malvern are putting residents' lives at risk.

Firefighters based in Worcester are currently having to travel to Malvern when needed at night due to a lack of staff in the town.

Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service is currently consulting with firefighters at Malvern station, in Worcester Road, to try to get more staff available to respond to emergencies at night.

Councillor Sarah Rouse – leader of the Democratic Group which is the opposition to the ruling Conservatives on Malvern District Council – has raised concerns that the shortage of firefighters is putting people at risk.

She said: “What is happening is a slow erosion of the service which they are bringing in by stealth. 18 months ago there were two watches of six people in Malvern and now we only have one.

“If the cuts continue there will be no guaranteed night-time fire cover in Malvern and with more housing being built, this is a real concern.

“We are campaigning for the fire service to explain their decisions. The retained firefighters are great, but they have full-time jobs and are not rope trained, which in Malvern with the hills is vital.”

A spokesman for Herefordshire and Worcestershire Fire and Rescue Service said the authority was trying to improve the situation.

“We continually assesses and deploys resources around the two counties to maintain fire cover and to protect our communities," the spokesman said.

“The Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP) 2014-2020 states that the night-time fire cover requirement in Worcester is one whole-time appliance. As we currently have two whole-time appliances at Worcester, one has been moved to Malvern as required, whilst always maintaining the agreed cover for the city.

“The current crew system at Malvern Fire Station is difficult to maintain as it requires whole-time staff to volunteer to be available for night-time cover, in addition to the availability of on-call firefighters.

“Currently the Service is consulting with the staff at Malvern with a proposal to increase the number of staff available to respond to the station, when the Service receives an emergency call.

“There is no change to the cover currently provided, and which meets the requirements of the CRMP and the CRMP Risk Review 2018.

"HWFRS continues discussions with the Fire Brigades Union to introduce the proposed plans.”

Last week, retired firefighter Saul Bolton told the Malvern Gazette that people’s lives were being put at risk.

Mr Bolton said: “Since managers have already reduced the amount of full time firefighters at night time over the last few months, Malvern has not been able to muster a crew on at least six nights, resulting in Worcester sending one of their two full time fire engines to Malvern.

“This drop in fire cover concerns me greatly as the lives of both firefighters and members of the public will be put at risk.”