PLANS to reduce the availability of aerial ladder appliances have been shelved following concerns by the Fire Brigades Union.

Like many other emergency services, Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service has to make millions of pounds in savings over the next few years.

Last week, it was understood that firefighters were told of proposals to change the way aerial appliances are dispatched to fires including one stationed at Drove Road.

One firefighter in Wiltshire, who didn’t want to be named, explained: “At the moment, they will have say five people on a pump appliance and others on the ladder so if there was an incident elsewhere in Swindon the pump would go to that but under these new changes, there wouldn’t be the people on the ladder to go to a high-rise fire.

“It means you’d have to wait for the aerial from Salisbury.

“After Grenfell, surely you need an aerial appliance at all times so it is a pretty scary factor for people living in high-rises.

“I look at the aerial appliance as an insurance policy just in case something goes wrong and you need it.

“A minute that appliance is delayed is extra time for that fire to spread.”

However, after many firefighters raised similar concerns with the FBU, DWFRS sat down with the union to discuss a way forward.

The FBU’s brigade chairman for Dorset and Wiltshire, Hamish Daya said: “On Wednesday, the FBU met with the management of the fire service and we managed to get the decision deferred for a year.

“It is a good for the time being.”

While the proposals have been delayed for a year, Concerns are still rife among firefighters about what the future holds but assistant chief fire officer Jim Mahoney remains adamant that the service will continue to help save lives.

He said: “Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service has four aerial ladder platforms (ALPs), stationed at Swindon, Salisbury, Weymouth and Westbourne. These ALPs, as with all of our vehicles, are subject to a replacement programme and, as such, we are procuring a number of new vehicles.

“It is right and proper that we review how we crew vehicles as part of any upgrade or replacement that may take place, and we have been considering alternative crewing options as a result.

“However, following this review and after consultation with our staff, we do not intend to change the way in which we crew ALPs as part of this process.

“As a Service, we are committed to the provision of ALPs and two replacement 32-metre appliances are due into service imminently, to be based at Swindon and Westbourne fire stations once all training is complete.”

In light of the Grenfell Tower tragedy, and the understandable concerns of our communities – especially in Bournemouth and Poole, where we have a significant number of high rise buildings - we have also approved the procurement of a 42-metre ALP.

“This is due into service during 2018/19 and will be stationed at Westbourne; at that time, the new 32m appliance will be moved to Salisbury as a replacement for the ALP there, and the existing Salisbury appliance will be moved to Weymouth.”