Cumbrian firefighters this week celebrated success in their campaign to defend local fire and rescue services after the county council confirmed that it would scale back cuts.
Graeme Higgins, Fire Brigades Union Secretary in Cumbria, said: “This is a victory for the communities of Cumbria, as firefighters now know we will be more able to keep the public — and ourselves — safer.
“The campaign demonstrates that when firefighters and local people stand together, we can make a difference and fight the devastating cuts that are taking place across the country.
“However, it is not all good news, and we’ll continue to fight to keep Dalton Fire Station open so that the fire and rescue service can best serve our county and we will continue to argue for the second pump at Barrow remaining 24/7.”
At a meeting on Thursday (30 January), the council’s cabinet agreed that:
– Penrith, Workington, Maryport, Kendal and Whitehaven Fire Stations would keep two fire engines each
– Barrow Fire Station would not lose its second fire engine to Ulverston
– Cumbria’s two aerial ladder platforms (ALPs) will continue to be based in Carlisle and Barrow and crewed from Carlisle and Furness under revised staffing arrangements.
Although revised proposals would still see Barrow Fire Station’s second full-time crewed engine relocated to Ulverston, Dalton Fire Station’s fire engine would also move to Barrow and be available for major emergencies.
More than 1,500 people responded to the official consultation on the cuts, with more than 20,000 responding via petitions organised by the Fire Brigades Union and other local campaign groups.
The revised proposals will be presented to a full council meeting in Kendal on Thursday 13 February.
