Residents urged to have say on fire service

Residents in Newtown, Welshpool and surrounding communities are being urged to help shape the future of the fire and rescue service, including how it responds to emergencies and allocates resources in the years ahead.

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service is asking people to take part in its Shaping Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service Together survey, which will feed into its Community Risk Management Plan 2040.

The plan will guide how the service responds to future risks, supports communities and allocates resources across an area which includes fire stations in Newtown, Welshpool and surrounding parts of north Powys.

More than 600 people, including residents, fire service staff, community groups and partner organisations, have already responded.

The fire service said: “We are encouraging everyone to take a few minutes to have their say and help ensure our priorities continue to reflect the needs of the people and communities we serve.”

Initial results show emergency response, prevention work and protecting vulnerable communities are considered the most important priorities by respondents.

A series of future challenges have also been highlighted, including firefighter recruitment and retention, flooding, wildfire risk, climate change, staff wellbeing, electric vehicle fires and incidents involving lithium batteries.

Recruitment and retention is particularly significant for rural communities where fire cover can depend heavily on the availability of on-call firefighters.

The consultation comes as Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service marks 30 years since its formation in 1996.

It now protects almost two-thirds of Wales, serving more than 912,000 people across 4,500 square miles through a network of 58 fire stations.

The service said: “As we celebrate 30 years of service, we are reflecting on how far we have come while looking ahead to the challenges and opportunities of the future.”

Feedback received so far suggests strong public confidence in the service, with 96 per cent of respondents saying they are either very or somewhat confident in the service provided.

A further 82 per cent believe it represents good value for money.

The fire service said feedback gathered over the past year had helped develop its understanding of the “challenges, risks and opportunities” facing both the organisation and the communities it serves.

It added: “As we celebrate 30 years of service and begin planning for the future through CRMP 2040, we want to know whether we're on the right track.

“We're asking everyone to take a few minutes to share their views. Your feedback will help us assess the progress we've made so far, understand whether our priorities continue to reflect what matters most, and ensure the future direction of the Service is informed by our communities.”

Responses are anonymous and the survey is available through the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service website. Different language and format options are also available.

Photo by Paul Williams, H18-PDW Photography