Views sought on proposals to cut Stone fire station staff
Plans to reduce staff at Stone Community Fire Station are set to be tabled before the public next week.
The station based at The Fillybrooks in Walton may lose its second appliance but Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service is hoping to gauge feedback from residents about whether to maintain the number of firefighters manning the building.
The matter will be discussed at a consultation event taking place from 5pm on Tuesday which is being held at Stone House Hotel.
Wider plans for change within the service will also be talked about as fire chiefs look to save £5.7 million over the next five years.
It is anticipated the budget cuts will result in 30 job losses this year alone.
Chief fire officer Peter Dartford said: "We want to talk to as many people as we can during this consultation period.
"We need our communities to give us their views to help us make the best decisions we can for the future because no final decisions have yet been made on any of the community safety options."
Despite the service saving £4m in the last four years, bosses claim they have recorded their lowest ever level of incidents.
Mr Dartford added: "This has been achieved through our proactive prevention and protection activities.
"These have had a positive impact on community safety.
"We are doing things differently but achieving better outcomes.
"The changes that we are proposing will have two strong commitments.
"They will not compromise community safety and they will not compromise the safety of our firefighters."
Tuesday's event is part of a 12-week consultation on the changes.
There will be further public events as well as an online questionnaire which anyone wishing to fill in can access by visiting www.staffordshire.gov.uk to have their say.
