A CREW manager at Rhyl Fire Station has said he is “more worried now than I was before” about its future after two of three “Emergency Cover Review” options were 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 review.

Following 1,776 people completing a questionnaire, options two and three were confirmed yesterday (October 16) as no longer being considered by the service.

While this has secured the future of five under-threat fire stations in Gwynedd, Anglesey and Conwy, option one remains under consideration.

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This involves 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.

Gavin Roberts, who has been based in Rhyl as a firefighter for roughly a decade, said that yesterday’s news has heightened his fears that the station will no longer be a 24/7 service, much to the region’s detriment.

He said: “Option one is still a downgrade to Rhyl and Deeside fire stations, with no personnel on station at night, which is going to cause a big delay.

“The news yesterday was still very bad for the residents of Rhyl and Denbighshire. I’m more worried now than I was before. I feel like it (option one being carried out) is inevitable.”

The final decision-making meeting of the Fire and Rescue Authority will take place on December 18.

Any changes agreed then will be enforced in a phased approach from April 2024 onwards.

Mr Roberts added: “We’ve got until December now, so we’re hoping for meetings with management, and for a demonstration outside Rhyl fire station.

“The station is still under threat of being downgraded.”

Duncan Stewart-Ball, Fire Brigades Union (FBU) regional secretary for Wales, said: "Thousands of people across North Wales have made it clear that they will not accept cuts to their fire service.

“We've had huge turnout at rallies and public engagement events around this consultation, with our communities standing with firefighters against these proposed cuts.

"Through this mass mobilisation, we have managed to get two of three austerity options off the table. However, we are still facing a serious downgrading of fire cover in Rhyl and Deeside.

“This will certainly impact fire cover across our region, and still threatens to put lives and homes at risk.

"The inspiring action of the past months has gone to show just how much residents value their firefighters and the service they provide. We will not accept a second-class service in North Wales.

"We need urgent investment to maintain and improve our fire service, to keep our communities safe in the years to come.

“That's why the FBU is putting forward options for improvement and growth, instead of these downgrading cuts and a downgraded fire service."

Gareth Davies, Vale of Clwyd MS, added: “I will be watching the progress of the development of option one closely and will continue to liaise and work closely with all involved to try to reach the right conclusion for the people of Rhyl and surrounding areas.”

James Davies, Vale of Clwyd MP, said: “North Wales Fire and Rescue Authority deserve credit for listening to the valid concerns of local people when considering the three options put forward to the public consultation.

“It is good news that the authority has chosen to discount their consultation options two and three and instead to work on developing option one. 

"As a result, there will be improved cover in south Denbighshire as well as elsewhere, but no reduction in firefighter posts as a whole.

“Nevertheless, option one involves 'day crewing' arrangements at Rhyl, which means that daytime firefighters would be contracted for night cover from home, whereas there is currently 24-hour cover on-site. 

"The implications of this on response times and on staff should not be underestimated. 

"Option one will also cost the taxpayer £20.36 more per annum.  I will continue to liaise with both the FBU and NWFRS as the process continues.”

Dylan Rees, chair of the Fire and Rescue Authority, said: “I would like to thank everyone who took part in this consultation.

“We had a great response from people completing the questionnaire as well as attending the public engagement events held across North Wales, in order to record their views on the three options presented within the consultation.

“Members of the authority reported that they felt the consultation had been extremely thorough and had been analysed in detail.

“Members agreed that as a result of the views expressed during the consultation, the focus going forward should be on developing option one which is the only option that does not included reducing firefighter posts.”

Chief fire officer Dawn Docx added: “We will now place our efforts and resources on further developing option one.

“I would like to provide reassurance that we will work with members of the FBU, both on a local and regional level, to find a consensus on the way forward.

“It is heartening that the level of the response to the consultation from all those who took part demonstrates such strength of support and recognises the value of our fire and rescue service.

“Equally, concentrating on further developing option one going forward offers the potential for improving our services provided to the people of North Wales in the future.”