News Fire cut threats are 'savage'
Firefighters have described the proposed cuts such as the one at Goole as "the most savage ever proposed in the fire service".
Last month, the Goole Times revealed that Goole's two full-time crews could be reduced to one full-time and one retained crew as part of an 'operational resource disposition'.
The cuts, which affect the whole of the Humberside region, would leave the East Riding with just two full-time crews - one in Goole and one in Bridlington.
Opposition has been fierce, and the Fire Brigades' Union (FBU) has vowed to fight them.
Ian Murray, spokesperson for Humberside FBU, said: "These are the most savage cuts ever proposed in the fire service in Humberside. These cuts will harm our ability to respond to all the types of emergency incidents we now attend.
"The cuts are being proposed because Humberside Fire and Rescue Authority want to make budget cuts of £4 million over the next three years. This is despite the authority getting far more money than it expected from central government to help pay for the fire and rescue service.
"The 'fire' service is now an all-round community rescue service with an enormous range of rescue responsibilities. These cuts and closures will mean fewer firefighters taking longer to get to all 999 incidents, not only fires."
Mr Murray said the cuts at Goole and closures in other areas will compromise not only the immediate areas, but also those relying on them for back-up.
"With those closures and cuts, that back-up will take longer to arrive, which will affect our ability to do our jobs at emergency incidents. This will clearly compromise public safety and our safety," he said.
"Firefighters could be left in the impossible position at 999 incidents of either waiting until a safe number of firefighters arrive and risking the lives of the public, or ignoring basic safety procedures and risking our own lives. Councillors or senior managers will not be at the scene when we are faced with those hard, real questions and the deadly dilemma we will be placed in as rescuers.
"Local fire crews have legitimate concerns and strong views about these issues. We are the professionals who understand the daily reality of the job we do and we will campaign to defend the service we committed ourselves to when we joined."
Ian Cawsey, MP for Brigg and Goole, held separate meetings last week with the FBU and the chief fire officer, and with Cllrs Doreen Engall and Darrell Barkworth, the chair and vice-chair of the Humberside Fire Authority.
He said: "I was keen to meet not just the Fire Authority, who will make the final decision on these proposals, but also the FBU who represent our firefighters who will be affected if these plans go ahead.
"The FBU were clear in their view that these changes are not necessary and whilst accepting there will be changes in the way fire services are delivered, they believe this is not the way to do so. They also specifically oppose the plans for Goole.
"The chief fire officer and the chair and vice chair of the fire authority said that they had spent over three years assessing the future needs of the area and that their plans are not financially driven, but their considered view of the best way to run the service to meet future demands.
'I said that it was very difficult to see how Goole, which is a growing town with a growing amount of industry, could now be deemed to need only one full-time engine and one part-time in the future when it was previously assessed as needing two full-time engines."
Responding to comments about the plans, Humberside's chief fire officer, Frank Duffield, has insisted the proposals are "not financially driven".
He also said the the £4 million figure quoted by the FBU was largely inaccurate.
"We are committed to using resources carefully and in a meaningful manner," he told the Goole Times.
A consultation period of 12 weeks will run until the middle of March and the chief fire officer said: "We welcome your comments and suggestions during consultation."
Meetings have been organised with the local authorities, town and parish councillors and the firefighters themselves.
A number of petitions have already been set up in protest. There is one available to sign at the Goole Times offices at 102 Boothferry Road, Goole.
Andrew Percy, potential MP for Brigg and Goole has set up an online petition, which can be signed at www.andrewpercy.org/campaigns. He is also carrying out a survey of residents.
Mr Cawsey urged residents to make their councillors aware of their feelings but said he would be happy to pass people's views on to the fire authority if it was easier.
They can be sent to him at The Courtyard, Boothferry Road, Goole, DN14 6AE or to cawseyi@parliament.uk
Published on 10th January 2008 in News.
Add to: Digg | del.icio.us | Reddit
Comments
Posted by John Speight at 12:25:36 on 20 January 2008
7 Woodview AIRMYN East Yorkshire 19th January 2008 Dear Editor As a resident of Airmyn I share the concerns of the Fire Brigades Union spokesperson, Ian Murray, as quoted in your publication regarding ‘Fire Cuts are Savage’. Indeed the public at large really do need to ask questions about what the implications of the current proposal means to them, their families and local businesses, not just for now but also for the future. The simple maths of downgrading Goole Fire Station and an expanding community of Goole and the East Riding just don’t add up. The people of Goole do expect good value for their money and equally demand excellent service. Let’s not forget what happened to our Ambulance Service. Our local fire crews are dealing with increasing numbers of calls year on year, often attending calls outside Goole to cover other fire stations that are closed at the time. The proposed reductions and, in turn, the slower response times have a huge knock-on effect. Fires can evolve for longer before the Fire Service gets there. Fewer fire fighters in attendance means they have less choice about what action they take on arrival at the scene of the emergency. This has the effect of compromising the health and safety of our communities and the fire crews themselves. The public expects an efficient and professional Fire Service. These current proposals are not conducive to achieving a long term, robust strategy to enable Goole to continue to prosper and stay safe. Yours sincerely John Speight
Comments are closed for this article.