100 firefighting roles are to be axed at Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service after the service revealed its budget has been cut by around half.

The cuts leave an £11 million shortfall in the service budget, requiring 100 positions, around one fifth of the 494 workforce, to go.

Chief Fire Office Dan Stephens also said that as many as four fire engines and a number of stations may also go to save money.

Fire chiefs said that many of the roles would go as a result of natural wastage and that compulsory lay-offs would be avoided wherever possible.

A fire service spokesman told The Liverpool Echo: “The Authority has suffered the largest cut in government grant of any fire and rescue service in the country, over 35% between financial years 2010/11 and 2015/16.

“The government has announced further significant grant cuts over the next four years, and the Authority now faces a reduction in real terms of 50% in its Revenue Support Grant.

“These further swinging government cuts mean that the Authority has had to make some tough choices in a new four-year financial plan which delivers the £11m in savings required to balance the budget.

“The Authority has little option but to approve the new financial plan, based upon the loss of up to 100 firefighter posts.

“This will result in the loss of up to four fire engines, the possible closure of a number of fire stations and further reductions in support services.

Original source

The Liverpool Echo