Friday June 19th 2026
Yorkhill fire station
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Drew Sandelands
Yorkhill fire station has been recommended for closure ahead of a key meeting on the future of services across Scotland on Monday.
Proposed changes will go before the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service board for decision on June 22 following a service delivery review.
In Glasgow, it is recommended that Cowcaddens station is rebuilt on Maitland Street and Yorkhill station is shut down.
The proposals would also see a second wholetime pumping appliance — a fire engine — reinstated at Cowcaddens, after it was temporarily withdrawn in September 2023.
The number of wholetime appliances at Govan and Springburn would be reduced from two to one. The second appliance in Govan had also been temporarily withdrawn in September 2023.
A second wholetime appliance, removed in 2023, would be reinstated at Maryhill.
A meeting of the Safe Glasgow Partnership on Thursday was told a “comprehensive suite of recommendations” have been made to the board. As part of the review, consultation was held last summer.
Area commander Andy Kenna said: “It is important to emphasise that these recommendations are not final and remain subject to board approval.
“I fully recognise and understand that any proposed changes to fire stations are highly emotive for both our staff and communities that we serve.”
The Scottish Fire & Rescue Service has said the service delivery review has looked at ways to reshape and modernise the organisation, and aims to ensure resources are “matched to operational risk and demand”.
A report to the board meeting states the review is “not simply about efficiency or cost reduction; it is a strategic redesign of service delivery to improve outcomes”.
The papers add the options for Glasgow maintain “a proportionate level of resilience” and the recommendations would deliver a “more balanced distribution of pumping appliance workload”.
They state the proposal also “recognises the limitations of the Yorkhill station location, which is adjacent to the Clydeside Expressway but requires a significant detour to access this arterial route due to a local road restriction”.
Cowcadedens, Knightswood and Maryhill stations can effectively cover the response area, the report adds.
SFRS chief officer Stuart Stevens said: “These proposals are focused on ensuring our resources are in the right places to meet risk and demand, while maintaining an effective, equitable and resilient emergency service for all of Scotland’s communities.”
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