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Fire Cuts Campaign Continues

Submitted by andrew on Thu, 03/04/2008 - 20:48.

We are continuing our campaign against the proposed fire cuts locally and I am delighted to report that every Conservative Councillor in the Brigg and Goole constituency, except the Fire Authority member who can say nothing at this stage, has now come out against the cuts. I also recently spoke at the Fire Brigade's Union rally against the cuts, as pictured! My first time speaking at a rally, it was a shame that none of the Labour MPs who claim to oppose the cuts turned up. Perhaps they were a little embarrassed that people have started to realise that the cuts are only happening because of the 2004 Fire and Rescue Services Act which our Labour MPs voted for!

Our campaign against the cuts continued on Wednesday at East Riding Full Council meeting when Cllr Caroline Fox and Cllr Gordon Megson, who represent Snaith, Airmyn, Rawcliffe and the Marshlands Ward, spoke out against the plans to downgrade one of the pumps at Goole. Sadly, other Councillors across the party divide decided to vote for a motion that broadly supported the Fire Authority proposals but did express some concerns about the Goole proposals and asked for some assurances before any changes go ahead.

Caroline, Gordon and other local Conservative Councillors voted against that and instead voted to ask the Fire Authority to look again at the issue. I have always said that I put local people, not party politics, first and that is why I quite openly condemn those Conservative Councillors from other areas who did not join Caroline and Gordon in voting for that re-think. Unlike our Labour MP, I actually bothered to turn up to the East Riding Council meeting to support the fire-fighters who were protesting outside. They do a great job and they deserve our support.

In any event, the East Riding Council vote means very little as the final decision will be taken next week by the Fire Authority. Here in Brigg and Goole, our conscience is clear, the local Conservatives are 100% opposed to these cuts and will continue to be so.

We will continue to do all we can to oppose these cuts.