Fire service cuts could leave town without full-time cover at weekends
Friday, 10th December 2010.
Haverhill could be set to lose its full-time fire cover at weekends under the latest cuts being proposed by Suffolk County Council.
At present the town has full-time fire cover seven days a week, but the proposal is to reduce it to five, with the weekends being covered by on-call firefighters, formerly called retained firefighters.
Four jobs could go at Haverhill fire station as part of cuts to the Suffolk Fire Service budget totalling £1.57million.
This represents a cut of 6.7 per cent in the fire service budget of £23.5million and is part of the county council's efforts to save £40million in its budget next year.
The cuts, which will be discussed at the county council's next cabinet meeting, come quickly in the wake of the controversial plans to transfer the county's fire service control to Cambridgeshire.
Already Haverhhill firefighters are preparing to fight the proposals via a legal challenge fromm their union.
In the past Haverhill fire station has escaped having its full-time cover reduced because of the dangers posaed by hazardous sites on the town's industrial estate.
IFF is classed as a major hazard, and has reduced its internal fire team so that it does not operate at evenings or weekends.
At present the town has full-time fire cover seven days a week, but the proposal is to reduce it to five, with the weekends being covered by on-call firefighters, formerly called retained firefighters.
Four jobs could go at Haverhill fire station as part of cuts to the Suffolk Fire Service budget totalling £1.57million.
This represents a cut of 6.7 per cent in the fire service budget of £23.5million and is part of the county council's efforts to save £40million in its budget next year.
The cuts, which will be discussed at the county council's next cabinet meeting, come quickly in the wake of the controversial plans to transfer the county's fire service control to Cambridgeshire.
Already Haverhhill firefighters are preparing to fight the proposals via a legal challenge fromm their union.
In the past Haverhill fire station has escaped having its full-time cover reduced because of the dangers posaed by hazardous sites on the town's industrial estate.
IFF is classed as a major hazard, and has reduced its internal fire team so that it does not operate at evenings or weekends.
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