Proposals for changes to the fire service provision in Wells have been put forward.

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue will be discussing next Friday (January 10) a recommendation to make the second fire engine at Wells on call on a risk-based availability, rather than initial plans to only crew the second engine overnight.

Making the recommendation, Lee Howell, Chief Fire Officer, said: "We are confident that we can secure alternative ways of working with our whole time staff which will allow us to undertake significantly more prevention and protection activity which will also make communities safer."

His report to the fire authority says that the proposed option will help the service become 'Safer Together:' and is an efficient, effective delivery model that actively reduces community and commercial risks, while improving the response to emergencies.

The proposals are part of plans that not only would make financial savings for the authority but they hope would also improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the service.

Mr Howell's report said: "During the daytime hours, people are generally awake and fire is often detected in the very early stages allowing for it to be extinguished before it develops significantly.

"However, people tend to be significantly more mobile during the daytime, moving from their homes to places of work increasing road related risk.

"The second fire appliances at fire stations are often not reliably crewed during the daytime due to on-call staff leaving the communities where they live to undertake their primary employment.

"The service proposes to increase the use of these fire appliances by crewing them when required during the daytime hours with roving crews that will undertake preventative activities while providing immediate additional emergency response capability."

The proposals will be discussed by the fire authority at a meeting on Friday, January 10, at 10am and Fire Service HQ in Clyst St George, Devon.

The fire authority members are appointed by the constituent authorities of Devon County Council, Somerset County Council, Torbay Council and Plymouth City Council to oversee the provision of fire and rescue services for the geographical counties of Devon and Somerset.

In total, there are 26 members of the authority, consisting of 16 Conservatives, five from Labour, four from the Liberal Democrats, and one Independent.