News story

20th August 2004

MP Warns that Local Lives may be "At Risk"

Northavon MP Steve Webb has issued a warning that the lives of local people may be at risk because of the way that the Government is handling the Fire Service dispute. Speaking after a meeting with Fire Authority Chair, Cllr Terry Walker, and Chief Fire Officer, Kevin Pearson, the MP said that he was alarmed at the low level of cover that would be available in the event of a strike by fire fighters.

Under new arrangements, the military will no longer use "green goddess" appliances, but will instead use a smaller number of regular red engines. In the event of a strike, there will be far fewer devices available than during previous disputes. There could be just four regular red engines with breathing equipment to service the whole Avon area, which experts regard as a dangerously low level of cover. The military have also indicated that they would not have enough trained personnel to provide adequate cover until some weeks after the first possible strike date.

Now Steve Webb has written to John Prescott asking him to intervene personally to broker a resolution to the long-running dispute and urging him not to use the dispute as a means of "breaking" the Fire Brigades Union.

Commenting, Steve Webb said:

"Whilst both sides have a responsibility to bring a resolution to this dispute, there is clear evidence that the Government is obstructing a deal in order to obtain a 'victory' over the Fire Brigades Union. I am seriously concerned that in the event of a strike, the level of emergency cover in South Gloucestershire will be totally inadequate and that lives will be put at risk. It is therefore all the more important that the Government stops putting obstructions in the way of a resolution".

Note to editors: The initial agreement which ended the original fire strike was for a pay increase to be made in three instalments, subject to progress on modernisations and agreements on new terms and conditions, but only the first of these has been paid. The pay increases due in November 2003 and July 2004 have not been paid.