Portsmouth City Council leader Councillor Steve Pitt has expressed urgent safety concerns as Portsmouth’s fire stations currently do not have an operational aerial ladder platform (ALP), a specialist fire engine essential for rescues in high-rise buildings.
The absence of this critical equipment poses serious risks given Portsmouth’s numerous tall buildings and vital infrastructure.
The ALP, which is crucial for fighting fires and rescuing residents from multi-storey buildings, is out of service at Southsea Fire Station due to its age and the unavailability of replacement parts.
The nearest operational ALPs are located in Southampton and Basingstoke, which could result in dangerously long emergency response times for Portsmouth.
Councillor Pitt highlighted the challenges of deploying an ALP from these distant stations, especially during traffic congestion such as the recent M275 closure that caused gridlock in Portsmouth.
While the drive from Southampton to Portsmouth normally takes 44 minutes, heavy traffic could extend this to over an hour, a delay that could potentially cost lives.
To address this issue, Councillor Pitt proposed swapping the Basingstoke ALP with the inactive unit currently on the Isle of Wight, which is better suited to Portsmouth’s narrow streets.
He also warned that the Southsea ALP is 19 years old, exceeding the usual 15-year replacement cycle, with no current plans for renewal.
A spokesperson for Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service stated that equipment availability is managed based on risk assessments and ongoing operations.
They confirmed that four ALPs remain in service across the county and assured that the lack of one in Portsmouth does not affect immediate fire response capability.
The service is reviewing the concerns raised and will respond directly to Councillor Pitt.
Originally published by UKNIP.
