Alarm bells ring over Northumberland fire cutbacks

Posted by The Journal on Nov 14, 08 10:20 AM in News

FIRE chiefs in Northumberland have been told to slash ÃÂ£3m from their budget as part of county cutbacks. Unions last night warned cost cutting in the service could cost lives, while the brigade boss said the prospect of significant cutbacks was worrying.

Firefighters battle a blaze at Wooperton near Berwick last year

Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service has been ordered to identify the ÃÂ£3m potential savings by Northumberland County Council, which must reduce its expenditure by 20% across all departments ahead of its switch to a new unitary authority.

The fire service is in discussions over how those savings could be made, but insisted no fire stations would close.

But chief officer Brian Hesler last night admitted "any significant cuts to the service would be of serious concern".

While welcoming the pledge that no stations would close, the Northumberland branch of the Fire Brigades Union has warned that the service cannot afford any cuts and that reduction of cover will put lives at risk.

Colin James, Northumberland FBU secretary, said: "Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service work to an integrated risk management plan that assesses all the risks to people and property from fires, road traffic accidents, chemical incidents or floods.

"It is that plan which determines the level of resources and numbers of firefighters and stations that we need in Northumberland.

"Any financial cuts would totally undermine that process and that would then put lives at risk for not only the public, but also the safety of firefighters would be compromised as well through that process. Any cuts would be disastrous for the fire and rescue service and the 20% would be catastrophic."

Mr Hesler said: "As with all the other council directorates, we've been asked to identify savings of around 20% which, in the case of fire and rescue, is around ÃÂ£3m.

"Discussions are still ongoing, however I am pleased to be able to confirm that there will be no closures of fire stations in Northumberland."

News of the need for cuts came on the same day as the Government set aside ÃÂ£60m of private finance initiative funding for Northumberland's fire and rescue service, along with its counterparts at Cleveland, County Durham and Darlington.

The money is for a joint long-term project which would see Northumberland's ageing fire stations replaced and made more community focused.

The fire service will now be invited to submit more details on its proposal.

But Mr Hesler said: "The PFI announcement and the need for savings to be made are two separate issues at this stage."

Coun Lesley Rickerby, the council's executive member for community services, said: "I must emphasise that the council will not endorse the closure of any fire stations."

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