A Conservative councillor in charge of fire and rescue services in Suffolk has been slammed after saying “we must balance the books at all costs”, just as a fire engine is being axed from one of Ipswich’s busiest stations.
The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) say the comments from Cllr Matthew Hicks show a blatant disregard for lives that could be lost as a result of more frontline cuts to services.
Roy Humphreys, brigade secretary of the FBU in Suffolk, said: “The priority of the fire and rescue service should always be to save lives, not count pennies. The engine they are going to axe has responded to hundreds of emergencies each year. There is no way that this decision will not adversely affect the service the public receive. My only hope is that today’s decision won’t lead to someone’s life being lost.
“Now we are left with just one full time fire engine and crew at the busiest station in the county. This is clearly unacceptable and the public are being let down. These cuts are reckless, dangerous and a recipe for disaster”.
More than 20,000 people responded to Suffolk Fire and Rescue’s consultation over cuts to the service earlier this year. A vast majority of those who responded said the cuts should be reconsidered.
Princes St. is the busiest fire stations in the county responding to one in five of all emergency calls made in Suffolk. The engine being removed from service has had nearly 300 call-outs so far this year.
