Glasgow

There are two options for Glasgow involving five fire stations.

• Maryhill
• Yorkhill
• Govan
• Springburn
• Cowcaddens

• Rebuild Cowcaddens on Maitland Street site and maintain two wholetime appliances.
  Reinstatement of second appliance that was temporarily withdrawn September 2023; AND
• Reduce the number of wholetime appliances based at Govan from two to one. The second
  appliance was temporarily withdrawn in September 2023; AND
• Reduce the number of wholetime appliances based at Springburn from two to one; AND
• Close Yorkhill which has one wholetime appliance based there; AND
• Reinstatement of second wholetime appliance at Maryhill that was temporarily removed in
  September 2023.

Pros

• Rebalance of resources across Glasgow city.
• Second appliance at Maryhill and Cowcaddens reinstated after temporarily removal in September 2023.
• Springburn and Yorkhill staff to be relocated or transferred
• Transfer of a further five staff to other key roles in training, prevention and operational resilience - saving and redirection of £458,000.
• Potential of £2 million capital receipt from sale of Yorkhill site with around £5 million property investment avoided.

Cons

• Increase in first appliance response times in the Yorkhill area and increase in second appliance response times in Govan and Springburn areas.

• Reduce the number of wholetime appliances based at Govan from two to one. The second
  appliance was temporarily withdrawn in September 2023; AND
• Close Cowcaddens which has two wholetime appliances based there. Maintain ownership of
  the neighbouring Maitland Street site for future development; AND
• Reinstatement of second wholetime appliance at Maryhill that was temporarily removed in
  September 2023.

Pros

• Rebalance of resources across Glasgow city.
• Around £10 million property investment avoided for rebuild of Cowcaddens.
• Maintain ownership of the Maitland Street site in Cowcaddens for future development.
• Transfer of a further five staff to other key roles across training, prevention and operational resilience with a saving and redirection of around £458,000.
• Second appliance at Maryhill would be reinstated after being temporarily removed in September 2023 - possibly crewed by around 20 staff released from Cowcaddens.

Cons

• Increase in first appliance response times in the Cowcaddens area and increase in second appliance response times in Govan.

The city of Glasgow and the wider area has a significantly high concentration of resources.

In particular, the concentration in and around the city centre represents the highest geographical density of stations and wholetime appliances anywhere in Scotland.

This includes five community fire stations and nine wholetime appliances, which represents an over-provision compared to other large urban areas of Scotland.

Three appliances were temporarily withdrawn within the Glasgow local authority area in September 2023. This included the second appliances at Govan, Cowcaddens and Maryhill. Single appliance stations such as Yorkhill were not considered at that time. A permanent equivalent solution is now required.

Resources across Glasgow need to be rebalanced to meet demand, while meeting requirements to make three permanent appliance withdrawals.

Modelling shows that the response area of Cowcaddens could be effectively covered by Calton, Maryhill, Springburn and Yorkhill.