Liveable Neighbourhood Fire crews report delays accessing incidents

MORE than half the fire crews rushing to the scenes of dozens of emergency call-outs within the East Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood (EBLN) over the past six months were delayed by the bollards and planters blocking roads, the Post can reveal.

- Tristan CORK

Fire chiefs told fire engine drivers to report back each and every time they went into the EBLN area in Barton Hill, Redfield and St George, and say if they experienced delays or not, what delayed them and what the issues were.

The survey results have been revealed by Avon Fire and Rescue Service (AFRS) as part of a Freedom of Information request, and show that, since May this year, 22 fire crews reported access issues out of a total of 43 crews who answered emergency incident call-outs within the EBLN zone.

The release of the internal reports from fire crews has angered residents of Barton Hill, who have been raising the issue of delays to emergency services reaching their homes ever since the EBLN started.

AFRS said it wanted to reassure everyone living within the East Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood they were ‘keeping a close eye on any impacts’, and working with the council on issues as they come up.

Bristol City Council’s man in charge of the EBLN said the feedback from the fire crews was ‘invaluable’ in informing changes to the scheme, but defended the scheme and said early data showed ambulance crews reached emergencies more quickly.

The EBLN went ‘live’ with the switching on of bus gates on Avonvale Road and installation of a major ‘modal filter’ system near the Wellspring Settlement in Barton Hill back in May.

The survey results from AFRS show every one of the first six emergency call-outs, logged from when they began asking for feedback from fire crews, showed delays and access issues.