The changes were agreed by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) board today (Monday) following a national review.
They will also see a second wholetime pumping appliance — a fire engine — reinstated at Cowcaddens, after it was temporarily withdrawn in September 2023.
The number of wholetime appliances at Govan and Springburn would be reduced from two to one. The second appliance in Govan had been temporarily withdrawn in September 2023.
A second wholetime appliance, removed in 2023, would be reinstated at Maryhill. There is planning permission in principle for a new station at Maitland Street.
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Board members heard the recommended options provide a “better balance of workload across Springburn, Cowcaddens and Maryhill”.
“It also avoids concentrating demand on Springburn and recognises the limitations of the Yorkhill site and the restriction of the pump coverage area due to the Clydeside Expressway and the River Clyde,” the board was told.
The chosen option was supported by Glasgow City Council who “commented that it best aligned with regeneration and longer-term planning for the city”.
During public consultation, 67 respondents favoured the chosen option over a second proposal, which would have closed Cowcaddens station. That option was favoured by 46 respondents. However, the other 273 participants opted for ‘neither’.
Consultation with crews at Cowcaddens found concerns about “increased response times, reduced fire cover and weakened resilience if either station closes”, a report to the board meeting stated. They viewed a “new, modern” station at Cowcaddens “positively”.
At Yorkhill, crews had “significant concerns”. The report stated: “Both options are seen to increase response times across Yorkhill, Govan, the West End and the SEC area, with road restrictions expected to worsen delays.
“Many believe Yorkhill is a strategically essential station due to dense entertainment venues, major universities, tourist sites, high-rise buildings and a complex residential risk profile. Crews feel that closing Yorkhill would result in a major gap that Cowcaddens cannot fully cover.”
Concerns were also raised by the Scottish Events Campus (SEC), which opposed the proposals for Yorkhill and Govan, and Anderston, City and Yorkhill Area Partnership, whose main concern was increased response time.
One risk highlighted by respondents was the increase in high-rise and student accommodation buildings.
The Scottish Fire & Rescue Service has said the service delivery review looked at ways to reshape and modernise the organisation, and aims to ensure resources are “matched to operational risk and demand”.
The report to the board meeting stated the review is “not simply about efficiency or cost reduction; it is a strategic redesign of service delivery to improve outcomes”.
