Chief fire officer Neil Odin has today sent a video message to Hampshire and Isle of Wight firefighters announcing that cuts to the service will go ahead, despite the fire authority voting to delay the decision on 29 August.
Firefighters, councillors, members of the public and the fire authority have raised serious concerns that £1.6 million cut to the frontline in the region will put public safety at greater risk.
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service (HIWFRS) has already lost one in four firefighters since 2010, and recent inspections reveal the service is struggling to meet its own emergency response standards. The latest HMICFRS report rated the service as inadequate in staffing and skills, requiring improvement in emergency response and resource management.
In the video emailed to fire service staff, the chief also stated that a letter has been sent to government ministers today, calling for the government to commit to funding the service in the future – but not pushing to prevent this round of cuts.
The FBU is urging the service to use the £23.9 million reserves it holds to plug the gap while it campaigns for more funding from central government.
Mark Chapman, Fire Brigades Union regional secretary for the Southern Region, said:
Firefighters across Hampshire and Isle of Wight were shocked to receive a video message from the chief today, announcing that cuts to the service will be forced through.
This bulldozing of due process comes less than a week after the fire authority voted to delay plans to slash firefighter posts, giving the service more time to push for the funding desperately needed.
Firefighters, councillors, members of the public and the fire authority have all made it clear that these cuts threaten public safety. Hampshire and Isle of Wight is already on the brink - losing further firefighter posts will put lives at greater risk.
Senior management of the service have a duty to put public safety first, and to do everything in their power to secure these essential resources. Central government must step in and provide the funding so desperately needed.”
