‘Station figures not misleading’

DATA used in a consultation into the possible closure of Henley fire station is “not looking to be misleading”, it has been claimed.

A review of emergency response times across the county has recommended that the on-call station in West Street is closed due to “persistent low fire engine availability”.

In correspondence shared with the Henley Standard, Rob MacDougall, chief fire officer of Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, said he was “confident” that the council’s approach to analysing the data is “sound”.

New data provided by the council shows that from January 2023 to December 2024, there were 377 incidents in Henley’s catchment area.

Of these incidents, Henley fire station was the first pump to attend 114, or 30.6 per cent. This is the second fastest after Caversham Road fire station, who attended 180, or 48.3 per cent.

Henley’s catchment covers a five-mile radius from its centre, where it will be expected to be the first attending appliance. This includes areas such as Caversham Lakes, Sonning Common and Cane End.

Mr MacDougall said: “We have used average annual data for incidents attended by Henley in Oxfordshire, which will differ from looking at a single year and including over the border incidents.

“This will differ from the information on the station log, which will include non-emergency and support calls.

“We have used station availability over the modelling period as outlined in the consultation documents.

“We are not looking to be misleading in anyway and I am confident that our approach to analysing the data is sound.”

Stefan Gawrysiak, a town, district and county councillor, believes the figures in the consultation don’t show the full picture.

He said: “The information proves Henley is the second fastest at attending incidents in the area of all the stations.

“Mr MacDougall says Henley does go into other borders but nowhere in the consultation is that mentioned or quantified.”

To take part in the consultation, visit tinyurl.com
/m3w48hpc