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Fury at ‘cuts’ in fire service
Sue Carr12/ 3/2008
FIREFIGHTERS in Tameside claim plans to cut cover could put people’s lives at risk.
Mossley fire station, which successfully fought closure two years ago, is staffed during the day but manned at night by crews from Ashton, Stalybridge and Stockport.
Fire chiefs want Ashton and Stalybridge to share fire calls, meaning that on alternate nights these stations will be will be left with just one engine.
Steve Evans, Fire Brigades Union representative for Tameside, branded the measure a ‘costcutting’ exercise.
"Since the new station opened at Ashton Moss, the area Stalybridge has to cover has got even bigger and Mossley is the second largest area in the brigade," he said.
"We also have three specialist units which can be called to anywhere in Greater Manchester.
"If there’s a house fire we send two engines, if someone is reported to be inside we send three, yet we only have six engines to cover the whole of the borough and only five if this goes through."
Mr Evans added: "There is a fine line between best value and putting people’s lives at risk and it’s a line the fire service should never cross
"Council tax is being increased again but fire cover is being reduced, despite the fact that the brigade are making a £3m saving each year."
Tameside Borough Commander Andy Heywood said: "It is my priority to ensure Tameside is provided with a service that meets its needs in the most economical and efficient manner possible without compromising the safety of fire and rescue service staff.
"The changes to how we work and how we deploy our equipment have been based on evidence and are designed to make best use of our resources.
"The current situation of providing a fire engine at Mossley during the evening by fire engines from other Tameside fire stations, and a Stockport fire station is being amended.
"All future cover, every evening, will be provided by Tameside fire stations only. The amendment taking place in Tameside does not affect our commitment to respond to emergencies within our target times."
Most recent 2 of 3 user comments
Why don't we have anything to show for our money in Tameside?
Is it that Tameside is just over-run by layabout scroungers who take, take, take? Or is it a result of abuse of power, bad management and allocation of funds? Maybe a mixture of both? Either way, the council are to blame for that and nobody else. I don't care what those those 'independent' audits say. Something doesn't smell right and i dont mean a burning house!
Maybe it's time for hard working people to move to another borough that rewards it's council tax payers with a nicer environment and decent police and fire services.
Leave RO and his silly little cronies to their 'excellent' council, olive soaps and that ridiculous egotistical plaque.
13/03/2008 at 18:26
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The audit is carried out by Price Waterhouse Coopers who have donated money to the Labour party in the past. Check it out on the electoral commission website. Not very independent then!
I have heard from someone on another blog that TMBC pay £400,000 for these "audits". Not sure on that one, but it would be interesting to find out.
14/03/2008 at 11:15