Living Rent
The Lochend branch of Scotland’s national tenants’ union, Living Rent, are calling on the SFRS to save the station from closure
Residents say they feel “unsafe” over plans to close an Edinburgh fire station affected by RAAC.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) is considering closing Marionville Fire Station near the Lochend area of the city.
The site was built using Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC), which is susceptible to crumbling and has a lifespan of just 30 years.
Without the funding to rebuild the whole station, the SFRS said the area can be covered “effectively” from neighbouring stations.
Under the fire service’s plans, Marionville’s equipment and staff would be moved about 3.5 miles away to Newcraighall.
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Marionville Fire Station is near the Lochend area of Edinburgh
A petition calling for the station to be saved has reached more than 4,500 signatures.
Two public meetings will be held on Tuesday at Craigentinny Community Centre to hear views on the plans. A public consultation closes on 16 September.
The Lochend branch of Scotland’s national tenants’ union, Living Rent, are calling on the SFRS to save the station from closure.
Claire Leadingham, chairwoman of Living Rent Lochend, said: “Closing Marionville fire station is outrageous and would be devastating for our community.
“For the SFRS to have known about the RAAC issues for six years but not plan or ringfence funding around keeping Marionville open is unacceptable. The people of Lochend deserve to be safe.
“RAAC is often used as a scapegoat but we know the actual route of the problem is budget cuts and underfunding.”
Risk and demand
Deputy assistant chief officer Andy Girrity from SFRC told BBC Scotland that RAAC presented significant structural challenges.
“It would be very expensive to demolish and rebuild Marionville in its current location and the identified optimal location in Duddingston is not available and would be unaffordable.
“With Marionville located so close to McDonald Road, moving this appliance and staff to Newcraighall would create a more effective distribution of operational resources to meet risk and demand across the east of Edinburgh and East Lothian.”
He said the SFRS recognised the important role Marionville has in serving the local community.
Mr Girrity added: “However, our modelling has shown that fire cover and key prevention activities can be maintained effectively from neighbouring stations.”
He said there would be no reduction in firefighter numbers or job losses under the plans.