Thursday June 4th 2026
Hawick Fire Station
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Paul Kelly
Shock and anger was expressed today after it emerged that the biggest town in the Borders is set to be downgraded to an “office hours” only fire service.
It has emerged that staff at Hawick Fire Station will no longer be on site after 5pm.
The move follows consultations over proposals to introduce a Day Staffing Model at the Howdenbank station.
The new model will see essential fire crews only being available during daytime hours from 9am to 5pm on weekdays.
The after-hours and weekend cover service would be provided by the community based on-call (formerly retained) staff.
Under the plans contingency arrangements for the entire central and southern Borders would be provided by full-time Galashiels-based crews.
The Scottish Fire & Rescue Service say the move is being made as a result of the need to make “essential operational efficiencies and to address budget constraints”.
The move, following a public consultation, is expected to be endorsed when fire chiefs meet on June 22.
But today senior Hawick councillor Watson McAteer, the convener of Scottish Borders Council, described the move as “absolutely ridiculous”.
Mr McAteer said a full service would soon be needed more than ever, particularly with a new £450m Center Parcs holiday village to open on the outskirts of the town within three years.
He said: “They have considered all the extensive consultation and then completely ignored it.
“I am furious and I think it is absolutely ridiculous. I think the Scottish Fire & Rescue Service Board and the Scottish Government should look hard in the mirror at what they are doing to this community.
“The Government’s job is to protect its citizens and Hawick and the local community has been let down by the the Scottish Government and Scottish Fire & Rescue Service.
“It’s not a 24/7, 365 day-a-year service – it’s a nine to five office hours, Monday to Friday.
“This fails to recognise the massive development changes taking place in Hawick, with Center Parcs breaking ground and to be in place by 2029, that’s less than three years away, a care village is also being built in Hawick, this is absolutely ridiculous.
“The biggest town in the Borders being left with a nine to five, Monday to Friday fire service. It’s shocking.”
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