FBU fights the cuts in Yorkshire


Malik J Rafidi, Selby Socialist Party

Selby Socialist Party is supporting the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) in their campaign against fire service cuts in North Yorkshire, collecting 248 names to add to the FBU petition online that has gathered over 2,600 signatures.

Proposed cuts will put residents, workers and firefighters at risk across North Yorkshire with response times, crew numbers and available equipment all jeopardised.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service is currently consulting on £1.2 million worth of cutbacks. These include plans to reduce crew levels and equipment at six fire stations, as well as replacing some fire engines with smaller ‘response vehicles’.

The FBU has raised concerns that fire engines, which are usually mobilised within two minutes during the day, will be delayed for five to nine minutes as a result. The FBU brigade secretary says in some areas the response times will even increase by eight to 15 minutes!

Dangers

Further cuts to Selby and the support station at Tadcaster will have a massive effect, particularly in the event of a large fire. Dangers were highlighted through a fire at a nearby salad factory in September, when it was necessary to deploy firefighters from seven surrounding stations.

The decision regarding the cuts will be made on 9 December, with the FBU holding a rally and protest at the North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service training centre in Easingworld.