Decision on changes that could see 13 fire stations closed postponed

Decisions on changes that could see up to 13 Scottish fire stations closed has been postponed until after the New Year.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) presented 23 options for public consultation over the summer.

Proposals include the potential closure of eight long-term dormant fire stations, as well as Balmossie in Dundee, Marionville in Edinburgh, Musselburgh in East Lothian, and Yorkhill or Cowcaddens in Glasgow.

The proposals cover 14 different local authority areas and involve more than 30 fire stations, and they include plans to repair or rebuild stations in some areas and transfer some staff and vehicles to “more effective” locations.

The consultation was open for 12 weeks and received more than 3,700 responses from the public, staff and stakeholders across Scotland.

Recommendations were initially scheduled to be presented to the SFRS Board in December 2025; however, this will now take place in the new year.

SFRS has said the feedback from the public consultation is “currently being carefully analysed” alongside operational evidence.

However, deputy chief officer Andy Watt said the work “simply cannot be rushed”.

The five city fire stations have been identified as potential closures or mergers because of low demand or because they are close to other facilities that SFRS said could provide effective cover.

They would also include the implementation of a daily shift pattern for firefighters in some areas, which would see full-time staff work from 8am-6pm, supported by on-call firefighters outwith these times.

Permanent solutions are also being proposed following the temporary withdrawal of 10 appliances in 2023, including in Perth and Kinross, Fife, Lanarkshire, Inverclyde and Glasgow.

Mr Watt said: “The consultation was an important opportunity to actively engage with the public to listen to their views, gather alternative suggestions, and for communities to highlight anything we may not have considered.

“We’ve been encouraged by the scale and detail of responses, and it’s essential that we take the necessary time to review and analyse all feedback. This work simply cannot be rushed.”