PLANS to shut five on-call fire stations across North Wales have been scrapped.

In late July, North Wales Fire and Rescue Service (NWFRS) stated an online consultation period, running until September 22, proposing three options in its “Emergency Cover Review”.

Option one would see full-time firefighters put on duty during the day in Corwen, Dolgellau and Porthmadog.

Meanwhile, option two would involve the same as the first, but with one of three fire engines based in Wrexham taken away, with 22 firefighter jobs lost.

The third option was the same as second, but with the closures of Llanberis, Beaumaris, Abersoch, Cerrigydrudion and Conwy fire stations, with the loss of 36 full-time firefighters and 38 on-call firefighters.

All three options, meanwhile, involve Rhyl and Deeside’s stations changing to a day staffing system, as part of the service’s plans to improve emergency cover in Corwen, Dolgellau and Porthmadog.

READ MORE:

Firefighter launches petition to ensure Rhyl station stays open 24/7

Today (October 16), NWFRS has confirmed that options two and three have been taken off the table.

Catrin Wager, Plaid Cymru’s candidate for the Bangor Aberconwy constituency, set up a petition to fight “option three”.

She said: “The North Wales Fire and Rescue Association’s decision today to take options two and three off the table mean the most extreme measures to cut one in eight firefighters across North Wales have been effectively scrapped.

"People in Conwy, Cerrigydrudion and beyond were horrified at the thought of losing their local fire stations, and objected strongly to the huge loss of 74 front line posts. 

“Should we ever need the fire service, we would all want them to be able to get there as quickly as possible. 

“The drastic cuts that were being suggested would have put lives at risk, and I think people saw that.”

Cllr Gwennol Ellis, who represents one of the communities who would have lost their fire station, added: “We live in a rural area and our remote farms can be hard to find. 

“The crew here are local, and they are best placed to get to a fire quickly because they know the area so well, and they are just down the road. 

“Closing this station would have been a huge loss for the community.”

The petition started by Catrin Wager and Cllr Ellis reached 427 signatures. 

Catrin Wager added: “The fact that so many people signed our petition demonstrates the strength of feeling that exists on this issue. 

“It also shows that by coming together to take a stand against things that are wrong, we can make a difference. 

“Thank you to everyone who signed, our voices were heard. And thank you to the Fire and Rescue Authority for listening.”

Rhun ap Iorwerth, MS for Ynys Môn and leader of Plaid Cymru, said: “I’m very pleased to hear that Beaumaris fire station - and others across North Wales that were included in the recent consultation - will remain open, as was campaigned for by those communities, the Fire Brigades Union and by Plaid Cymru councillors and elected representatives.

“This is the right decision to keep our communities safe - it’s vital now that the right investment can be made to encourage more people to sign up as firefighters within their local communities.”

Plaid Cymru Seiriol Ward councillors; Carwyn Elias Jones, Gary Pritchard and Alun Roberts; added: “This is very good news for Beaumaris.

“We’re pleased that the community came together to make the case clearly that we opposed the proposed closure of our fire station, and would like to thank everyone who attended the public meetings, signed the petition and made their views known through the consultation process.

The result is that our voice has been heard loud and clear and our station and its jobs safeguarded.”