Scottish Borders

There is one option that involves two fire stations.

• Galashiels
• Hawick

• Introduce a new duty system for the first appliance at Hawick, which is currently crewed by wholetime firefighters. This would see that appliance crewed by wholetime firefighters during day shift hours from Monday to Friday between 8am and 6pm. They will be supported by on call firefighters out with those times. The second appliance will continue to be crewed by on call firefighters; AND
• Introduce a nucleus crew of wholetime firefighters at Galashiels. They can be tactically deployed across the area during day-shift hours when on call availability is most challenging. This would supplement the existing two appliances, one crewed by wholetime firefighters and the other crewed by on call firefighters

Pros

• Operational demand data supports a change to a day-shift duty system for wholetime firefighters in Hawick, when they are most likely to be called to an emergency and when on call availability is challenging. This would match resources to operational risk and demand.
• Repairs to the roof structure caused by RAAC will be repaired at Hawick and the station will be upgraded.
• A pool of wholetime staff at Galashiels would be tactically deployed to on call stations in the area to maintain availability during the day and enhanced prevention delivery.
• Around 12 staff would be transferred into other roles across training, prevention and operational resilience.
• Around £478k reduction and redirection in resource costs.

Cons

• Increase in first appliance response times outside of day shift hours in the Hawick area.

Hawick has the second lowest operational demand of all similar stations that have two appliances.

Out of the two appliances at Hawick one is crewed by wholetime firefighters and the other crewed by on call firefighters. Operational demand is more aligned to the busiest on call stations elsewhere in Scotland.

Hawick’s roof structure is affected by RAAC and urgent repairs are required. We are unable to begin repair work until a decision is made on the station configuration and duty system.

Galashiels is in a prime location to support on call availability across the local area. The station has received a refurbishment costing approximately £3.6 million