A presentation at the Committee of the Whole meeting on June 15^th includes recommendations that, if implemented, would affect response times to calls for first responders.

Proposed changes include the relocation of Bloomfield and Milford Stations to a single Cherry Valley station, and the closure of both the Ameliasburgh and Cressy Stations.

Although the aim is to improve response times and increase efficiency, if the recommendations are approved, some areas of Prince Edward County may be underserved.

The map provided to illustrate the implementation of the recommendations shows that while central Prince Edward County can expect response times from zero to 14 minutes, several areas, such as Cressy, Long Point, Green Point and Huyck’s Point can expect much longer waits.

Jeffrey Howell, President of the Bay of Quinte Mutual Insurance Company, suggested there could be insurance premium hikes “up to 80 percent higher” for homeowners whose residences are no longer within 20 km of a fire station.

The Gazette reached out to the author of the report, consultant Phil Dawson, for clarification, but had no response at press time.

The report is available to read here.

All requests to register to provide remarks under “Comments from the Audience” must be submitted to the Clerk’s Office at [email protected] by noon, on Thursday 15 June. Ensure you include your name, the organization you represent if applicable, and contact information.