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Possible cuts in fire service in one of the ?highest risk? areas in Western Europe

Cleveland fire crews have lashed out over cuts to fire crews at Billingham fire station, found in one of the highest risk industrial risk areas in Western Europe and at the heart of Teesside’s petro-chemical industry.

The area has 37 of the highest accident hazard sites, but the fire authority plans to cut one fire engine, meaning the loss of 22 frontline fire posts.

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) says the cut will mean fire fighters will take longer to get to 999 emergencies, along with a worse service for people in Cleveland.

Steve Watson, Cleveland FBU secretary said: “These industries in this area pay national and local taxes and one of the services they get as a business is the fire service. It is one of the most important services for large and small businesses.

“There have been major incidents in this area. If you can justify cuts in one of the highest risk industrial areas in the whole of Western Europe, then nowhere is safe from cuts.”

The proposal is not final, and is subject to a public consultation process which ends November 3.

Stockton North MP Frank Cook said: “It seems to me a funny form of consultation when it appears that the first I—and I suspect most of my constituents—hear about the idea is through the media…and apparently only days before the ‘consultation period’ runs out!

“I assume that those proposing this move will claim to have some form of rationale for reducing cover at a station so close to so many high risk sites, but on the face of it I find it hard to imagine anything more difficult to justify.

The FBU urge as many people as possible to contact local councillors, Fire Authority or Chief Fire Officer to express any concerns.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .