Prospective MP Andrew Percy is demanding that the decision to downgrade Goole Fire Station be revisited following the admission by Humberside Fire Brigade that they are desperately short of retained firefighters at both Howden and Snaith Fire Stations. Goole is presently crewed by two full-time pumps but will be reduced to one full-time and one part-time retained pump.

Andrew Percy says, "I could not believe my eyes when I read that a spokesman for the Fire Brigade had said that the recruitment of retained firefighters was so bad that if there was a fire next to some of the retained stations at the moment, crews would have to come from other areas to fight the fire!

Worse still, we are told that recruitment at Snaith and Howden is especially desperate which is very concerning as these two stations are presently backed-up by the full-time crews at Goole. What will happen if they have similar issues recruiting retained firefighters in Goole for the downgraded second pump.

We could end up with exactly the situation we predicted during the recent consultation on the proposed fire cuts, i.e. the one full-time crew being left to cover the Goole, Howden and Snaith fire areas! When we suggested this during the consultation our concerns were poo-poohed and we were assured this could not happen!

I am frankly astonished that senior fire officers continued to recommend the downgrading of Goole Fire Station when they must have known that the recruitment of retained firefighters was such an issue. I have written to the Chief Fire Officer demanding he revisits the decision to downgrade Goole once again."