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HUMBERSIDE FIRE CREWS TELL FIRE BOSSES TO BIN THEIR CUTS PLANS AFTER BEING MASSIVELY REJECTED DURING PUBLIC CONSULTATION

Humberside fire crews are calling for plans for savage cuts to be thrown out after being massively rejected in a public consultation. The call comes in advance of a crunch fire authority meeting on 11 April which will consider the plans.

Fire chiefs propose to close 4 fire stations (Sledmere, Waltham, Kirton in Lindsey and Hull Central), remove a fire engine at another (Immingham West) and end the immediate response capability of a fire engine at (Goole). The cuts will see the loss of one in ten frontline firefighter posts with between 100 and 110 fewer frontline firefighters available to respond to emergency incidents.

The public consultation shows massive opposition which included 8 petitions containing 17,213 signatures and an additional 23,132 letters of objection. Of 194 e-mails in response to the consultation, only 4 supported the plans.

Members of Parliament from all political parties have publicly opposed the plans including Ian Cawsey MP, Elliot Morley MP, Graham Stuart MP, Greg Knight MP, Austin Mitchell MP, Alan Johnson MP, David Davis MP and Shona McIsaac MP.

Councillors in 3 out of the 4 Unitary Authorities have opposed the cuts with only 1 (East Riding) offering conditional support. Every single Town & Parish Council which has heard representations have opposed the plans.

Ian Murray FBU Humberside Brigade Secretary said: “Everyone who has heard both sides of the argument has rejected these savage cuts. There is massive opposition which managers and fire authority councillors must listen to.

“People understand the issues and value the work we do at all the emergencies we have to respond to. The message from fire crews, the public, MPs and councillors across Humberside is that these plans are bad, dangerous and should be binned.”

***ENDS***

Media contact:

Ian Murray 07967 103345

See footage of the campaign at http://www.youtube.com/fbutube which is free for broadcasters to use.