LOCAL residents and businesses are being encouraged to have their say on the fire service’s plans for the next four years.
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) has launched an eight-week consultation on its new draft Fire Plan.
The service serves all 10 boroughs in Greater Manchester – including Tameside and Oldham.
The plan details how the service will “identify new and evolving risks”, “ensure the right resources are in place” and “continue to put keeping residents and businesses safe at the heart of everything the service does”.
The proposals – which will replace the current Fire Plan launched in 2021 – can be viewed and feedback can be provided through a short survey.
The plan is produced by the Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham, Deputy Mayor for Safer and Stronger Communities Kate Green, and Chief Fire Officer Dave Russel.
Greater Manchester Combined Authority, which oversees the fire service, says it was put together based on input from more than 3,800 residents gathered during engagement activities last year.
“We saw with the recent flooding how important it is to have a fire and rescue service that is fit for purpose and able to meet the changing risks and challenges we face,” said the Chief Fire Officer.
“We need to ensure that we can continue to respond effectively to incidents like the extreme weather we saw over the New Year period.
“My hope is that over the next four to five years, we will be able to provide the world-class fire service that residents in Greater Manchester deserve, and your feedback will be invaluable in helping us to enhance safety and emergency response across the city-region.”
The consultation runs until Monday, March 10, and can be accessed at www.gmconsult.org
Feedback from the consultation will feed into the final version of the Fire Plan, due to be published in May.