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MPs join concerns over fire cutbacks
BLACKPOOL'S regeneration plans mean fire cover should be boosted and not cut, says the town's MP.
Gordon Marsden said it was vital the town had enough cover to cope with large fires which could hamper the town’s development, such as the one that destroyed Yates’ Wine Lodge.
Fire bosses have ann-ounced plans to slash 3m from Lancashire’s fire budget, including 1.5m on the Fylde coast.
In a letter to Lancashire’s Chief Fire Officer Peter Holland, Mr Marsden said: “I fear slimming down of provision could leave us with little margin for coping in the case of major fires, which we have had in Blackpool all too recently.
“The fire services, supported by organisations both voluntary and statutory, showed great courage and professionalism in tackling very serious blazes.
“But to do so required maximum support and had exacerbating factors been in place – very strong winds, people trapped and unable to be evacuated, lack of any slack in the system to call in extra forces from nearby – might increase the risk of fatality in any future incident.
“I did not see anywhere in the fire service’s plans any acknowledgement of this particular problem in Blackpool, given the nature of the fires, particularly at a time of regeneration.”
Safety
Mr Marsden’s comments follow calls for a re-think of the fire cuts by Blackpool Council leader, Coun Peter Callow, who said he was concerned for public safety.
Fellow MPs Michael Jack and Joan Humble have also written for a consultation over the proposed cuts and Wyre MP Ben Wallace is understood to be in regular contact with fire service chiefs.
Under the new plans, fire bosses want to replace one of Blackpool’s main fire engines with a smaller, adapted “Transit van” style vehicle – called a Rapid Intervention Unit (RIU).
Fire service unions say the RIU will not be able to carry out rescues but fire bosses say it will be able to get to small fires and automatic fire alarms quickly, dealing with more incidents than a conventional fire engine.
The proposal would also see firefighters at Bispham, Fleetwood and St Annes stations work new shift patterns. It would mean firefighters work 42 hours a week, with a further 42 on “standby”, living in purpose -built accommodation at the fire stations.
Lancashire received 32.3m from central Government for this year – the lowest for a fire authority in England – and 28m from the local authorities.
A public consultation finishes on November 15 and the fire authority will vote on the scheme in December.
To register your views, write to: The Risk Management Team, Lancashire Fire and Rescue HQ, Garstang Road, Fulwood, Preston, PR23LH, e-mail rmp@lancs firerescue.org.uk or call (01772) 862545.
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Weather for Blackpool
Sunday 27 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 13 C to 25 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: South west
