Town's fire station could operate round the clock

Twenty full-time firefighters could be recruited across Lincolnshire, while Grantham station would become staffed 24 hours a day.

The proposals follow a review by Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue to ensure services remain "resilient, effective and sustainable".

The changes would mostly be funded by the removal of an uplift for wholetime firefighters providing overnight on-call cover on a voluntary basis, the service said.

People are being invited to have their say on the plans in a "public engagement period", which runs until 23 August.

The proposed changes would see Grantham Fire Station become Lincolnshire's second 24/7 whole-time station, after Lincoln South, the service said.

New firefighter posts would be established at Grantham to allow for the required 2-2-4 duty system, where firefighters work two day shifts, followed by two night shifts, followed by four days off.

The service's seven other wholetime stations - Boston, Gainsborough, Lincoln North, Louth, Skegness, Sleaford and Spalding - would still be staffed seven days a week, with on-call firefighters providing cover at night.

Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue's 29 on-call stations would not be impacted by the proposals.

Chief Fire Officer Mark Baxter said: "These proposals would strengthen wholetime firefighter numbers, retain seven-day wholetime cover at all existing wholetime stations, increase our response capabilities in and around Grantham, and increase our overall resilience."

The Fire Brigades Union welcomed the proposed increase in firefighter posts, saying the investment was "long overdue".

A spokesperson said: "The proposed investment in Lincolnshire is a positive step in the right direction, but it must be viewed as part of a wider commitment to properly fund the fire and rescue service."

In May, Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue confirmed a £4.4m investment for new fire engines and equipment.

The service will get nine new fire engines over the next two years and look to purchase a further nine vehicles by 2030.

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