BOSSES at a nuclear power plant have moved to dispel safety concerns over its plan to change the provision of its on-site fire service.

Fears the Emergency Planning and Fire and Rescue Service at Urenco would be ditched or its efficiency hampered by cutbacks were quashed by the company.

Plans mooted include the possibility the role could either be put out to tender or taken on by plant technicians.

The move comes despite Sellafield recently being told to increase their onsite firefighter provision by the Office for Nuclear Regulation.

There are concerns the change could create longer response times.

Urenco spokesman Neil Kinsey Fagan reassured staff and the community.

He said: “URENCO UK will under all circumstances retain an emergency response that protects the ongoing safety of the site.

“We are currently reviewing options for the provision of the fire and rescue service. However, any option under consideration will not compromise our safety standards that protect the site and our local community.”

The presence of an on-site fire team has proved crucial in averting a potential chemical disaster recently.

On February 22 firefighters from stations across Cheshire attended the uranium enrichment plant after a fire began in a workshop, which was put out with a CO2 extinguisher by staff.

Paul Watts, station manager for Ellesmere Port, said: “We have an excellent relationship with Urenco and regularly train alongside their on-site emergency teams.

“We work with all of our major industrial sites to ensure we are well-prepared for incidents at their premises, which I must stress is a rare occurrence. We have an excellent relationship with Urenco and regularly train alongside their on-site emergency teams.”

On another occasion, the electrics caught fire on a police van carrying police deterrents, again rapidly dealt with by the team on-site.

Urenco’s Capenhurst site, valued at £11.7bn, is currently at the centre of a plan by shareholders – including the Government – to sell it, raising £4bn for the country.