Firefighters in East Sussex have criticised chief fire officer Des Prichard after he admitted he has no ‘Plan B’ over plans to cut firefighter jobs and fire engines.
East Sussex Fire Authority are currently consulting the public over the proposals, which firefighters say could cost lives.
Simon Herbert, Fire Brigades Union chair for East Sussex, said: “I’m amazed that Mr Prichard has been unable to offer any alternatives to cutting appliances and firefighter numbers and is now asking the public to do his job for him.
“I would expect a reduction in the number of fire engines or station downgrades or closures to be the last place he would look to make savings.”
Firefighters are urging the public to say ‘no’ to the cuts by responding to the consultation — and for the fire authority to vote against them at their meeting in June.
Prichard — who earns over £150,000 a year — has proposed cuts that could lead to the loss of 80 firefighter jobs and fire engines in Brighton and Hove as well as Hastings.
East Sussex Fire Brigades Union secretary, Mark Brown stated “These cuts will put lives at risk.
“Even the fire service’s own statistics show that lives will be lost if these badly-thought-out cuts go ahead.
“The Service is putting savings ahead of public and firefighter safety.”
The consultation can be found at www.esfrs.org/publicconsultation/
