Fire upgrading gains approval
By Jo Deeks on Thursday, 18th November 1999.
PLANS to upgrade fire cover in Haverhill have been approved by councillors, despite a 5,660 signature petition protesting about downgrading at Sudbury.
Members of Suffolk County Council's caring and protection theme panel approved the plan to increase manning in Haverhill from five to seven days a week.
Their recommendation will now go forward to the Council's Executive Committee next month where the final decision will be made.
The plan is to increase hours at Haverhill by downgrading Sudbury, which is currently manned during the week, in the daytime, to become a retained station.
This was one of the proposals of a fire service review announced in June and councillors were given the results of a four month consultation period at their meeting.
Despite protests from Sudbury, councillors agreed to go ahead with the plan to deploy the four full-time posts at Sudbury elsewhere. A statement from the council said members of the panel were satisfied that training and and attendance times in Sudbury would not be affected.
Coun Maggie Lee, of Haverhill, who chairs the panel, said the views and concerns of the people of Suffolk had been an important part of their considerations.
"Our priority is, and always has been, the best possible levels of fire cover for the county. We feel our recommendations offer the best option for the future of our first class fire service," Coun Lee said.
When the changes were first put forward in June, Ken Seager, Suffolk's Assistant Chief Fire Officer (Technical), said they were needed because of an increased fire risk, particularly of an industrial nature, in the Haverhill area since the situation was last reviewed in 1987.
Members of Suffolk County Council's caring and protection theme panel approved the plan to increase manning in Haverhill from five to seven days a week.
Their recommendation will now go forward to the Council's Executive Committee next month where the final decision will be made.
The plan is to increase hours at Haverhill by downgrading Sudbury, which is currently manned during the week, in the daytime, to become a retained station.
This was one of the proposals of a fire service review announced in June and councillors were given the results of a four month consultation period at their meeting.
Despite protests from Sudbury, councillors agreed to go ahead with the plan to deploy the four full-time posts at Sudbury elsewhere. A statement from the council said members of the panel were satisfied that training and and attendance times in Sudbury would not be affected.
Coun Maggie Lee, of Haverhill, who chairs the panel, said the views and concerns of the people of Suffolk had been an important part of their considerations.
"Our priority is, and always has been, the best possible levels of fire cover for the county. We feel our recommendations offer the best option for the future of our first class fire service," Coun Lee said.
When the changes were first put forward in June, Ken Seager, Suffolk's Assistant Chief Fire Officer (Technical), said they were needed because of an increased fire risk, particularly of an industrial nature, in the Haverhill area since the situation was last reviewed in 1987.
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