A MAJOR reshuffle of fire cover in the borough has been approved.
The changes, which include the construction of two new fire stations, are designed to improve response times.
Rubber-stamped at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, they are supported by union chiefs, although there are concerns resources will be more stretched.
The first change comes in on Monday when cover at Reigate fire station will be permanently cut from two engines to one. The second pump will be moved temporarily to Horley – which is losing its pump currently operated by West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service – until it is permanently housed at a new fire station in Salfords. The Mirror understands this will be built at the Phillips Laboratories site in Bonehurst Road. It could be up and running by the end of this year.
A second new station will be built in Burgh Heath, with a target completion date of next summer. That will be staffed by one of Epsom's existing two engines.
County council leader David Hodge said: "This will give us a better service for more people. We have got to look at the big strategic picture. We have had some really difficult spots [to cover], like Chipstead. I think this will give us a much better plan for the future."
A report presented to the meeting revealed only 52 per cent of the borough's population is within ten minutes' response of one fire engine, compared to a Surrey average of 80 per cent. Under the new arrangements, service chiefs forecast meeting the response time for 86 per cent of Reigate and Banstead, and 87 per cent of the county.
The secretary of the Surrey Fire Brigades Union, Richard Jones, said: "From a response time point of view we believe the position of the new stations will be a benefit to the public in the vast majority of cases. It will give a better spread of cover.
"What the council hasn't really taken into account is that, with losing the West Sussex cover in Horley, they are covering a greater area with the same amount of pumps. Only time will tell how busy that area is."
Those in the middle of the borough could suffer a slower response time until the new stations are up and running, he said.
"It would make more sense to make all the changes at once, but the fire service has no choice but to cover Horley when West Sussex pull out on April 1. I can't see how they could do it better, but there will be a loss in the interim."
