Ambulance, NHS and transport workers have pulled out of several fire stations in Hampshire,
Ambulance, NHS and transport workers have pulled out of several fire stations in Hampshire, leaving the fire authority facing a £32,000 a year drop in property income.
The figures are set out in a report to the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Authority (HIWFRA), which lists a number of routine property decisions made by senior officers.
According to the report, South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) were due to stop using welfare facilities at Redbridge Hill, Brockenhurst and Andover fire stations from December 31. This will reduce income by £15,896 a year.
Solent Transport has also ended its arrangements to host airspace monitoring equipment at Cowes, Ryde and Gosport fire stations, cutting income by a further £2,250 a year.
In addition, the NHS has given notice to leave the fire service headquarters site in Eastleigh by the end of March 2026, resulting in a £10,000 a year loss.
Changes have also been made to existing agreements with SCAS at Southsea and Winchester fire stations. Two long-term leases have been replaced with simpler licence agreements allowing access to welfare facilities.
Although the new licences still bring in £4,950 a year at each site, the changes mean a net loss of £14,100 a year compared with the previous deals.
Some new and updated agreements will continue to bring in income. At St Mary’s fire station in Southampton, the Street Pastors group has moved from an informal arrangement to a formal licence.
This allows them to increase their use of the site, including placing a small storage container there, and brings in £4,364 a year.
On the Isle of Wight, the Isle of Wight Ambulance Service took a licence to use Shanklin fire station as a welfare base from August 2025, generating £3,640 a year. A separate agreement has also been signed with Virgin Media at Rushmoor fire station, allowing the company to use existing underground ducting to improve phone services.
The report also confirms the £1.42 million purchase of Unit 3 at Trafalgar Close in Chandler’s Ford, which was completed in October 2025 after being approved earlier by the fire authority.
The previous owners will remain in the building under a short-term licence until the end of December, paying £1,666 a month. Overall, the changes amount to a net income loss of £32,576 a year.
However, the authority says it will expect to generate more than £1.5 million from the property estate during the 2025/26 financial year.