Decision on Balmossie Fire Station's future delayed
A decision on the future of Balmossie Fire Station in Broughty Ferry has been deferred until after new year.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has said that the original timeline for final decisions on proposed changes to more than 30 fire stations across Scotland has been extended.
As part of its Service Delivery Review, SFRS presented 23 options for public consultation over the summer of 2025.
The 12-week consultation received more than 3,700 responses from the public, staff and stakeholders across Scotland.
The feedback is currently being carefully analysed alongside the operational evidence that informed the proposals. This detailed process is being independently supported by the Diffley Partnership.
Recommendations were initially scheduled to be presented to the SFRS Board in December 2025, but this will now take place in the new year.
Proposals include the potential closure of eight long-term dormant fire stations, as well as Balmossie in Dundee, Marionville in Edinburgh, Musselburgh in East Lothian, and Yorkhill or Cowcaddens in Glasgow.
The options also included the implementation of a day shift duty system in targeted areas and the transfer of resources to better align to operational risk and demand.
Balmossie currently has one wholetime appliance and one on-call appliance.
Another option is to remove the whole-time appliance and retaining the on-call appliance.
Both options would see the reinstatement of a second pump at the Kingsway East station in Dundee which was temporarily withdrawn in September.
Deputy Chief Officer Andy Watt said: “The consultation was an important opportunity to actively engage with the public to listen to their views, gather alternative suggestions, and for communities to highlight anything we may not have considered.
"We’ve been encouraged by the scale and detail of responses, and it’s essential that we take the necessary time to review and analyse all feedback. This work simply cannot be rushed.”
However, campaigners claimed that the possible closure of Balmossie would put lives at risk. A petition garnered more than 4000 signatures.
They said: “This area has seen continued growth in population, putting more pressure on public services. Removing or reducing fire cover now would be dangerous. Firefighters based at Balmossie respond to a wide range of emergencies; all types of fires, road traffic collisions, and multiple types of specialist rescues. Their local knowledge and rapid attendance save lives.
“A retained (on-call) only model or complete closure would leave this community exposed, with longer wait times for backup from other stations already under strain. We cannot allow these cuts to go unchallenged.”
Earlier this year Assistant Chief Officer David Farries insisted the fire service would not bring forward proposals for change with significant level of safety concerns. The station averages between 450 and 500 call-outs a year, which Mr Farries described as “exceptionally low”.