Barry 'Spike' Foster

Remembered as a hard working, good natured and humorous person

It is with very great sadness that the Union hears that Lincolnshire brigade secretary Barry 'Spike' Foster died the morning of September 18 in hospital from cancer. 

FBU General Secretary Matt Wrack says: “I will remember Barry as a hard working, good natured and humorous person. I am sure the whole union will join me in sending our condolences to Barry’s family and friends.”

Lincolnshire regional treasurer Janine Curry says: “He is leaving a tremendous gap in the lives of his family and his friends both in the fire service and especially in the union. He was an absolutely sincere, talented and true friend and loyal FBU official. It has been a difficult time for us all in Lincolnshire and the Region as he made such an impact on our lives and work. I believe it will take a good while longer before we really come to terms with him not being here.”

Funeral details:

Monday 26th September, 15:10 hrs
Lincoln Crematorium
Washingborough Road
Lincoln

It is a non-religious service and the family have requested no flowers.  Donations collected at the service will go to the Benevolent Fund and the Macmillan Trust.

A buffet and drink will be laid on after the service at Gainsborough Fire Station.

Nottinghamshire fire crews vote four to one in favour of industrial action short of a strike

Nottinghamshire fire crews have voted four to one (81%) in favour of taking industrial action short of a strike over moves to force them to provide an ambulance service. The FBU says the fire authority is trying to impose new ambulance duties without negotiation.

Fire crews are likely to refuse to attend ambulance calls as part of the industrial action. The Union has major concerns that desperately needed fire service resources will be diverted to attend medical emergencies for which they are not trained.

One of the first calls taken under the scheme saw ONLY a fire appliance sent to attend a medical emergency. The ambulance service were unable to send an ambulance at that time.

Members have given their verdict

Nottinghamshire FBU Brigade Secretary Ian Young said:

“Nottinghamshire’s fire crews have given their verdict on plans to force them to provide an ambulance service. The fire authority has failed to negotiate as they are required to do and that is unacceptable.

“This plan makes as much sense as ordering the police service to provide an ambulance service because they have fast squad cars and first aid training. No one would think of sending an ambulance to put out a fire just because there is a fire extinguisher on board.

“Fire crews and the public would be at risk if there is a delay in attending incidents because we are being used as an ambulance service. This scheme is not about saving lives it is designed solely to fiddle the figures for ambulance response times.

“The failing East Midlands Ambulance Service must explain why it cannot ensure a speedy response to all 999 calls. If it cannot perform the basics of what it is set up to do then that needs to be dealt with by the NHS.”

West Mids members express public safety concerns as 13 appliances between midnight and 8.00 are axed

Firefighters have become increasingly concerned about risks to public safety following the implementation of the West Midlands Fire and Rescue Authority’s Integrated Risk Management Plan (IRMP), which has led to the axing of 13 fire appliances between midnight and 8.00.

Their fears have been increased when at 23.51 on the 21st of September two appliances from Ward End and one from Central fire station were sent to a house fire with persons reported trapped in Alum Drive, Bordesley Green.

The appliance from Central Fire Station was due to become unavailable at midnight and was turned back after being mobile to the incident for two minutes  and was replaced by another appliance from Central fire station, all this resulted in a severe delay in attending the incident.

FBU West Midlands chair Andy Dennis said: “We have been calling upon the Fire Authority to review their IRMP as we have clear evidence that attendance times are being compromised throughout the whole of the West Midlands, the problem is that they now use average attendance times instead of maximums.

Crews put in terrible position

“The crews last night were put in a terrible and confusing position whereby they were sent to a fire with people reported trapped and then told to return to station.

“Our emergency fire control staff are also being put in an unenviable position where they have in the back of their minds whether or not they can send particular appliances due to the fact they go off call at midnight, their workload is stressful enough without having that burden upon them.

“We now ask the public to ask questions as to what is happening to the future of their service, if standards continue to slip like this who knows what the future will hold - I hate to think”.

Edinburgh councillors join fight against station closures

Senior city councillors have joined the fight against controversial plans to close fire stations in the capital.

The fire service is facing growing opposition to its plans to close Marionville and McDonald Road fire stations and build a single replacement in Leith.

Now six city councillors are to send a deputation to the next fire board meeting amid fears the closures will put lives at risk. Councillors Ian Berry, Ewan Aitken, Jack O'Donnell, Maureen Child, Ian Perry, and Lawrence Marshall have demanded a fire service report on the impact the changes will have on east Edinburgh.

The decision was made at a meeting of the East Local Development Committee (ELDC), after the councillors were contacted by city firefighter Graham Barrett, who said the closure would "in some cases double existing response times".

Unconvincing assurances

The fire service has promised this will not be the case, but has failed to convince either the FBU, or councillors in the east of Edinburgh.

Councillor Berry said: "There were extraordinary amounts of strong feelings at the ELDC meeting. All six councillors called for a special report. The closure of Marionville won't do. The fire service hasn't even said where in Leith the new station will be.

"I want assurances the fire station will be left as it is." He is to head the deputation at the next board meeting of the fire authority in October.

Councillors step up petitioning

Cllr Berry has also promised to organise a petition of residents in east Edinburgh, while another is to be collected among pensioners by campaigner Phyllis Herriot.

The new "super-station" in Leith is part of an £8.5 million shake-up which will also see Musselburgh and Tranent replaced by a station in Wallyford.

In West Lothian, where Craigshill fire station in Livingston is also threatened, more than 3,000 people have signed a petition opposing the scheme.

And in Edinburgh, several firefighters look set to side with the councillors over the proposed closure of Marionville.

Gavin Barrie, Lothian and Borders branch secretary for the FBU, said: "If you increase the travelling time between the fire station and people's homes it will result in a longer response time.

Growing oppposition

"We believe if firefighters have to come from north Leith, travelling time must amount to five minutes, even in reasonable conditions." He added: "I think there's a growing opinion that Marionville should not close.

"If people come up with a reasonable argument that Leith is not the best place for a new station then somewhere else may be found."

One of the arguments for creating a new station in Leith is the increase in the area's population brought about by the huge new developments at the waterfront.

But Mr Barrie said: "The flats in Leith are going to be very modern and well-covered by fire alarms. Leith will have some of the safest homes in Edinburgh, while Marionville is full of old buildings, and has social and economic problems - the fire service is taking protection away from the place that needs it most."

The plan, out for consultation until October 21, is available at local libraries.

www.edinburghnews.com

Controls campaign: Northumberland

The campaign against regional fire controls continues in the regions.

Members in the North East will be petitioning in the streets of Berwick-On-Tweed on Saturday. Also, at the request of Wansbeck district council, FBU Northumberland brigade chair Colin James briefed councillors Wednesday on the dangers of regional controls and the closure of the existing local control room.

All four Northumberland Labour MPs - Peter Atkinson, Alan Beith, Ronnie Campbell, Denis Murphy – have signalled their serious concerns about the FiReControl project by signing Early Day Motion 229.

Councillors say they are unaware of these concerns so the FBU has requested that the MPs write to them to make their position clear.

In the past two months North East members and officials have petitioned the public for their support for the campaign in Durham, Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesborough, Newcastle and South Shields, as well as Ashington, Blythe and Hexham. They have obtained around 10,000 signatures to date.

Controls campaign: FBU takes it to the Labour Party conference

The FBU is taking its campaign against regional fire controls to the Labour Party conference next week.

The Union will holding a fringe meeting ‘Public Services Out of Control’ on Tuesday 27 September, 12.45, at Hilton West Pier.

From the FBU, General Secretary Matt Wrack and fire control staff will be speaking.

TUC Assistant General Secretary Frances O’Grady, CWU General Secretary Billy Hayes and FBU parliamentary group chair John McDonnell MP will also be making contributions.

FBU parliamentary group member, David Drew MP, will be chairing the meeting.

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Last Modified: 7/04/08 10:50,