Firefighters say that proposed cuts to frontline staff in Brighton and Hove should set alarm bells ringing
Firefighters and politicians are due to share a platform on Thursday (29 May) to discuss how proposed job cuts could affect public safety in Brighton and Hove. The public meeting – at the Brighthelm Centre – has been called in part over concerns that a formal consultation has failed to reach the people who, campaigners say, will be left in danger.
A week later they will learn whether a fire engine and between a dozen and two dozen jobs will be cut or spared. The members of East Sussex Fire Authority are scheduled to meet in Eastbourne on Thursday 5 June to discuss the proposed changes. If approved, either the fire station at Preston Circus in Brighton or on English Close, Hove, will lose a fire engine and some jobs.
More jobs could go at Roedean if the fire authority decides that it should be a “day crewed plus” fire station. The exact details and hours can vary locally, East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said, adding: “In essence staff would work days and then be on standby (ie, on call to respond to emergencies) at night, resting at accommodation provided on or near the fire station.”
In its consultation document, Changing The Service, the fire authority said: “Calls in the city of Brighton and Hove have reduced in number by approximately 32 per cent over the last ten years and there is now an over provision”
It also said: “The risk to public safety predominately stems from fires that occur in the home or business premises and from road traffic collisions and, therefore, there is benefit in looking at historical demand. This must be balanced with the continued reduction in most incidents as a result of a more aware community and the potential small increase in incidents caused by adverse weather conditions, eg, flooding.
“The likelihood of needing a fire and rescue service intervention in an emergency situation across East Sussex and the city of Brighton and Hove is decreasing, and the trend is that the number of interventions will continue to reduce.”
Simon Herbert, the chairman of the East Sussex branch of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), criticised fire service chief Des Prichard over the proposed cuts: “I’m amazed that Mr Prichard has been unable to offer any alternatives to cutting appliances and firefighter numbers. I would expect a reduction in the number of fire engines or station downgrades or closures to be the last place he would look to make savings.”
The East Sussex FBU secretary Mark Brown said: “These cuts will put lives at risk. Even the fire service’s own statistics show that lives will be lost if these badly thought out cuts go ahead. The service is putting savings ahead of public and firefighter safety.”
The fire authority’s case is that crews are dealing with fewer incidents so provision should change and that the proposed changes will help meet financial savings targets. It is trying to save more than £7 million by 2018-19. And it estimates that the proposed changes in Brighton and Hove will contribute between £1 million and £1.5 million towards that target.
Mr Herbert and his union colleagues have taken to the streets of Brighton and Hove to make their case. He said: “We’ve been out for the past few weekends trying to raise awareness. There is a consultation taking place but when we speak to the public, people seem to be totally unaware that the fire authority will be making these decisions. We think the service has failed to get the message out there.
“There are other ways of doing it (making the financial savings) that don’t impact the safety of the public. We had great support from all political parties. Caroline Lucas (the Green MP for Brighton Pavilion) and Simon Kirby (the Conservative MP for Brighton Kemptown) came out. This is above party politics. It’s about safety.
“Nancy Platts (the Labour parliamentary candidate for Brighton Kemptown) has been very supportive from the start. We met Mike Weatherley (the Conservative MP for Hove) and I believe he’s written to the chairman of the fire authority asking him not to make any cuts which would leave the public at risk.”
The public meeting at 7.30pm on Thursday (29 May) will give an indication of the strength of public feeling. But the real test comes when the fire authority meets next week. Details about the consultation can be found at www.esfrs.org/publicconsultation.
