Growing town needs full fire service

Published on 17th January 2008 in Letters

Sir - With reference to the planned Goole Fire Station cut-backs, I am more than pleased to see that cross-party support has been gained in fighting the preposterous proposals of the cuts in provision at Goole fire station by Humberside Fire Brigade.

Cllr Pat O'Neil is correct in stating that there is an agreement in place to provide a full-time crew in Old Goole in the event of a bridge failure, thus ensuring cover in that isolated part of town in such an event. I also believe that such an agreement was in place to provided a gas board team in Old Goole in such an event.

Ian Cawsey, MP for Brigg and Goole, correctly states that Goole is a growing town. Some time ago I mentioned to a public meeting regarding the development of Capitol Park that the East Riding of Yorkshire has the fastest growing population in the UK, and I believe that Goole has the fastest growing population in East Yorkshire.

My findings were later confirmed the following week when leader of the council Steven Parnaby in his column in East Riding News stated what I had said about East Yorkshire but he did not go as far as to agree with me about Goole. I also stated I hoped we would not see a cut in public service, what with the growing population.

With new housing estates springing up daily, 18 months down the line we now see attempts to put cuts in place. Humberside Fire Brigade has been given a more than generous budget compared with our neighbouring counties. Chief Fire Officer Frank Duffield says it is the result of three years of research, all done with the help of a computer. I would like Mr Duffield to substantiate the data put into that computer.

Regarding the consultation process, we seem to be having a lot of this thrust upon us now, and what I have witnessed is whatever the majority wants the opposite happens. Look at the support for the post offices closures recently. Prospective Conservative Party candidate Andrew Percy stated the consultation process was a sham regarding post office closures, I totally agree.

However I think Mr Percy was a little economical with his words. I think it was a cynical exercise which reflected badly upon those who conducted it. So I now ask readers of this newspaper to sign the various petitions, lobby your councillors, attend public meetings and most importantly write or email the chair of Humberside Fire Authority.

Should all residents do this it might not be a cynical consultation. May I also add that, with the growth in industry and population in Goole, instead of cutting back the service I ask that we now upgrade Goole fire station and put a further full-time crew and engine in place as soon as possible.

I wonder if the fact that Goole was a port was inputted into that computer. A fire in a ship, as any fireman will tell you, is the worst they could fight.

Brent Huntington

Queens Drive, Goole