Consequences of cuts to the fire service could be dire

From: Alan ToftCoastguard Square, Eastbourne
Fire & Rescue East Sussex.

web standing-images. SUS-150526-090550001Fire & Rescue East Sussex.

web standing-images. SUS-150526-090550001
Fire & Rescue East Sussex. web standing-images. SUS-150526-090550001

The nation is fully focused on the COVID-19 threat and rightly so. But meanwhile local government issues evolve including one which appears to detrimentally affect the safety of everyone in our local communities.

At a moment in time when the shape and content of county and local government spending plans could be changed forever post-pandemic, East Sussex Fire and Rescue Services ( ESFRS) is planning reductions in manpower and fire engine availability, the consequences of which appear to be dire.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Eastbourne firefighters, supported by the Fire Brigades Union, says there will be reduced firemen availability at Battle, Bexhill,Crowborough,Lewes, Newhaven and Uckfield and there would be one less fire engine at these stations.

Currently these six day crewed stations provide 24/7 day time response and on-call response at night.

ESFRS proposes no evening or weekend on-station cover here but instead there will be on-call staff. This could mean delays in response. In addition it will be difficult to recruit these people.

Eastbourne, says the union and it seems correct, will be dragged into these changes by new fewer-hours shift systems and staff reductions with firefighters being moved to the six mentioned above.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Cover for emergencies such as the fire which destroyed the Claremont Hotel will be drastically reduced.

I write not as a firefighter but as a resident, alerted to this issue, who recognises the bravery, resourcefulness and sheer commitment of our local firefighters .

ESFRS appear to be putting reductions in spending before the safety of every man, woman and child in our communities.

I am told that ESFRS themselves admit that we , the potential victims , would wait longer for firefighters to arrive after the changes .

Surely they must not be allowed to happen.

Our Eastbourne council should intervene now while the consultation process is ongoing.