Lochgelly Fire Station: reprieve on cards as fire chiefs table more new proposals

A decision on potential changes at Lochgelly, Methil and Glenrothes was put off in the summer following the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s Service Delivery Review.

It had put forward 23 proposals for change across Scotland, including significant changes to fire cover in Fife.

At Lochgelly, proposals included reducing the number of appliances from two to one, cutting crew capacity, reportedly from 45 to 25, and removing the specialist rope rescue unit - one of only four such units in Scotland.

The original proposals sparked a huge backlash among residents with over 3000 signing a petition, while former MSP, Annabelle Ewing, described them as “unfathomable.”

The two options presented had proposed the reinstatement of a second fire appliance at either Glenrothes or Methil with the number of wholetime appliances at Lochgelly going from two to one.

While decisions on other proposals across Scotland were confirmed in June, a final decision on the Fife stations was deferred following major opposition from the local community in Lochgelly.

A further three-week consultation has now been launched on an additional option for the three stations.

Under the new proposal, the temporary withdrawal of the second wholetime appliances at Glenrothes and Methil would become permanent, while no change would be made at Lochgelly.

The SFRS said the two options previously consulted on last year remain under consideration and no final decision has been made.

Chief Officer Stuart Stevens said: “I would like to thank everyone who took the time to engage with our consultation in 2025, whether by attending an event, completing a survey or sharing their views with us.

“We heard strong views from staff, communities and stakeholders about the proposed changes in Fife. We have listened carefully to that feedback and, alongside further consideration of the operational, workforce and implementation implications of the options, the Board agreed that further consultation should take place before any final decision is made.

“This consultation provides another opportunity for people to have their say and help inform the board’s future consideration of the options.”

The SFRS said analysis undertaken during the review found that operational demand at Lochgelly, Glenrothes and Methil is among the lowest of all stations with two wholetime appliances anywhere in Scotland and is more closely aligned to stations that operate with a single wholetime appliance.

It said evaluation of the temporary arrangements introduced in 2023 found no evidence of adverse operational outcomes or impacts on community safety.

Chief Officer Stevens added: “All feedback received will be analysed and considered alongside operational evidence and other relevant information before a recommendation is presented to our Board in the new year.

“I would encourage local communities at these locations and across Fife to review the information available and take part in the consultation.”

Members of Fife Council’s Cowdenbeath Area Committee were told of the online consultation which could see Lochgelly keep its second appliance at their meeting last month.

Its convenor, Councillor Alex Campbell, welcomed the news.

“It is good all the political groups are working together on this and the community came together as well and hopefully the SFRS are listening to what the community is asking for,” he said.

Councillor Bailey-Lee Robb added: “The strength of feeling in Lochgelly is very clear – it is certainly welcomed.”

The consultation will run until November 30 and members of the public can participate by completing an online survey via firescotland.gov.uk.

Two online public meetings will be held from 2:00pm to 4:00pm on Monday, November 16, and from 6:00pm until 8:00pm on Tuesday, 17th

A final recommendation will then be presented to the SFRS Board for consideration in February > To attend an online meeting and complete the consultation survey, visit firescotland.gov.uk.