Thursday October 1st 2026
Hawick Fire Station
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Paul Kelly
The Fire Brigades Union is “redoubling efforts” to prevent the downgrading of staff cover in Hawick.
In June the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Board rubber-stamped a decision to implement an “office hours” working pattern at Hawick Fire Station.
It followed a nationwide Service Delivery Review undertaken as part of continuing work to “modernise the service and ensure operational resources are matched to changing risk and demand”.
A raft of recommendations, including the introduction of a day-shift duty system (DSDS) at the Howdenbank station, were endorsed.
The new model meant essential fire crews would only be available during daytime hours from 8am to 6pm on weekdays, with after-hours and weekend cover service provided by community-based on-call (formerly retained) staff.
Under the plans contingency arrangements for the entire central and southern Borders are to be provided by full-time Galashiels-based crews.
During the consultation a large number of residents, town councillors, MPs and MSPs supported the Fire Brigade Union’s assertion that the proposals would increase the risk to communities, properties, the natural environment, and the fire-fighters who keep them safe.
Now the FBU is urging residents to attend a public meeting at Hawick Town Hall on Monday, October 26, from 6.30pm, amid a renewed effort to block the controversial changes.
Lewis Clark, of the FBU, said: “The FBU and the communities of Hawick and the Borders are not willing to let these cuts proceed.
“We are redoubling our efforts to stop them. We believe the reduction in fire cover is the result of years of under-funding and over £800 million in real terms being stripped from the budget of the Fire and Rescue Service.
“That is why we are calling for as many residents as possible to attend a public meeting in Hawick Town Hall to show a united front in the campaign to prevent the downgrade of Hawick’s 24/7 fire cover.”
The Scottish Fire & Rescue Service says the move was made as a result of the need to make “essential operational efficiencies and to address budget constraints”.
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