Fire Authority Fails Residents of Berkshire
February 18, 2011 by webmaster
Filed under Local Press Releases
MEDIA RELEASE
18th February 2011
Berkshire Fire Authority has agreed to massive cuts in the service it provides to the people of Berkshire and made the frontline even thinner in the County. Instead of firefighters and fire engines, it will spend its money on new back office staff and new buildings.
The Authority agreed a budget cut of £1.4 million that will see –
- a reduction to the number of firefighters at Newbury and Windsor
- a reduced attendance to automatic fire alarms in the County
- a 27% reduction in the number of operational and specialist officers
- a delayed attendance to incidents in rural areas
- the closure of Cookham Fire Station
At the same time, Fire Authority members put a massive £2.8 million aside for the employment of back office staff and future building projects.
Maurice Whyte, FBU Berkshire Brigade Chair:
The FBU is appalled that the Fire Authority has failed the people of Berkshire. These budget cuts will expose Berkshire residents to increased risk and delayed responses to emergencies.
To save pennies, the Fire Authority is gambling with people’s lives and property. It has agreed not to use some fire engines, while overstretching others.
It is sickening to think that £2.8million is being put into reserves while £1.4 million is being cut to the detriment of public and firefighter safety. This is a sad day for the tax-payers of Berkshire.
***ENDS***
Media Contacts –
Maurice Whyte 07917 065867
Mark Stollery 07917 065868
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