Campaigners attack decision to remove one city fire engine
CAMPAIGNERS have called a decision to axe one of Derby's fire engines, despite a 20,000-name petition against the move, as "bad for democracy".
Fire authority members voted to remove one of the two engines at Ascot Drive Fire Station, despite strong opposition from union representatives and the public.
It reduces the number of engines in the city from four to three, with others at Nottingham Road and Kingsway stations staying put. As part of a new authority strategy, fire stations at Swadlincote, Matlock and Glossop will be upgraded to full-time and manned 24 hours a day.
They are currently manned from 8am to 6pm.
The Derby Telegraph and the public were barred from hearing the debate prior to the decision, taken yesterday at Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service's Littleover headquarters.
An official said that members of the public and Press were not allowed into the debate because it would be discussing matters relating to people's employment conditions. She quoted the Local Government Act 2000.
The result was announced after more than 90 minutes of intense discussion and left opponents repeating fears that it could put lives at risk.
City councillor Ranjit Banwait has campaigned against the plans since they were revealed by the fire service in September.
He said last night: "We should be investing money in Derby, not taking it away. This shows that elected members will not listen to the public.
"It's a bad day for democracy and a bad day for consultation. They had already made up their minds.''
Before the meeting, opponents – including firemen – protested outside the building, calling for the engine to be saved.
They stopped members of the fire authority as they drove in and asked them to vote against the plans.
But despite their pleas, members voted along party lines – with Labour councillors outvoted by the Tory and Lib Dem representatives.
After the meeting, deputy chief fire officer Sean Frayne said the changes would increase cover across the county and claimed the same number of engines would attend fires.
He said: "We currently have 10 full-time appliances operating from nine stations. That will rise to 12 appliances at 12 stations – there will be an increase in fire cover.
"I can understand members of the public signing a petition. They were asked 'do you agree with a 25% reduction in fire cover provision in Derby?'
"That in isolation would maybe persuade me to sign but you need to look at the whole picture. The community will not receive any less response to emergency calls."
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by Anon, Derby
Saturday, March 13 2010, 11:05AM
“Joan -
It doesn't matter if the calls are genuine emergencies or not, they still have to attend. So everytime there's an automatic fire alarm going off at The Royal, Westfield or Student accomodation etc, at least 2 trucks turn up. Every malicious call has to be checked.
Its not just fire calls either. It is fire and resue. Car smashes, suicides attempts, spillages of fluids/chemicals etc.
3 truck are not enough for a city. It's a stupid and dangerous decision.”
by Alan Graves, Derby
Friday, March 12 2010, 3:05PM
“Res Derby Derby or is it Barbara? I think when people post on here but are so unsure of themselves that they have to hide behind pseudonyms speaks volumes. As Winston Churchill said 'some men change their party for the sake of their principles; others their principles for the sake of their party'.”
by Joan, Derby
Friday, March 12 2010, 3:00PM
“Every time they get rid of a vehicle we have this argument. To be honest there does seem to be less fires than they used to be, perhaps if the figures were published showing how many times engines were called out on genuine emergencies the public could judge better.”
by anon, here
Friday, March 12 2010, 1:13PM
“this is just the start watch out for more cuts to all services”
by Brian, DE23
Friday, March 12 2010, 12:50PM
“Take it the Fire Authority will be asking me for 25% less this year in my council tax payments then.
Lets hope the moron's that voted for this will be watching their house burn down due to a delay in the pump arriving from Swad or Duffield.”
by Anon, Derby
Friday, March 12 2010, 12:30PM
“Sean Frayne is mistaken if he thinks that people signed the petition for the reason he stated.
It doesn't take we numpties long, to work out that a loss of an engine, means less cover in the city.
Three trucks mean we only have the manpower to deal with 1.5 house fires until back-up comes from , say, Duffield. And god help us if we have an incident at RR or Derby Royal or a pile up on the A52.
We should be adding trucks not cutting. We've already lost a high rise appliance, to Chesterfield I believe.(because they have so many high buildings - don't they)
Do the stations at Swad, Matlock and Glossop have more calls between 6pm and 8am than Ascot Drives second truck ??
And will my Derby City council tax go down because I now don't have the same cover as last year ?
What a load of wallies!!!”
by Res. Derby, Derby
Friday, March 12 2010, 12:30PM
“Alan Graves was a Labour councillor for 12 years and did very well out of it. He only ceased to be one when he failed in his attempt to take control of the Labour Group on Derby City Council last summer. After this failure he almost immediately quit the party in a fit of childish pique and public loss of face. Now he suddenly claims that party politics is wrong for our society. How can anyone take this man¿s comments seriously?”
by frank, Derby
Friday, March 12 2010, 12:25PM
“Well said Peter.
Well said Alan.”
by frank, Derby
Friday, March 12 2010, 11:11AM
“I think I put on here some time ago that the engine would go.
Cost cutting WILL put people at risk.”
by peter ambler, spondon
Friday, March 12 2010, 10:05AM
“im amazed ascot drive is amongst some of the oldest and most industrious areas of derby ,yet they loose a fire engine . so we.ll have kingsway /notts rd .duffield and swadlincote . seems to me something is wrong with our councillors we have at pressent planning three incinerators in that area which are dangerous .plus rolls royce and celenese all at easy reach of ascot drive ..mike carr and his freinds have no consideration for public livesor health .the further a fireman travels the more risk to him and his crew ./public savings they claim .yet councillors mp.s get a rise /plus we are being burdoned with another mp three more councillors in the next election we dont need .and their hangers on . mike car was only asked two weeks ago by alan graves .in the council house ./when mike carr gave ratepayers money to an incinerator company to apeal against the councils own decission /alan graves asked carr would you not like to leave a legacy to children and residents of derby /meaning good health and clean fresh air /he replied he was not bothered .does he deserve to be a councillor / not in my eyes .the fire crews do one of the most dangeros jobs this is an insult to them . yes public opinion and common sense now has gone out of the window .councillors obviously cant think for theirselves ..it s wealth not health they seek . my advice becareful who you vote for .the fire men deserve better so do the voter .and all who signed the petition and fought for these brave men who risk lives only to be insulted /peter ambler”