Town's fire cover plans hotting up
Saturday, 1st January 2000.
Haverhill looks unlikely to get its promised extra fire cover before the end of the year. There was a storm of protest from Sudbury about plans announced last November to move its four full-time staff to Haverhill, and leave the town covered by retained firefighters.
The lengthy campaign against the move failed, but none of the four firefighters has come to Haverhill.
Now the fire service is seeking to promote staff from elsewhere for two leading firefighter posts at Haverhill, and to advertise for two more firefighters.
Ken Seager, Suffolk's Assistant Chief Fire Officer (technical), recommended the changes because of the increased fire risk, particularly of an industrial nature, in the Haverhill area.
He said this week his intention was to fill the four additional jobs at Haverhill as quickly as possible.
Mr Seager explained: "Part of our agreement with the Sudbury officers was that they could express a preference regarding their posts and unfortunately none has expressed a preference to go to Haverhill.
"We are hoping to promote someone from elsewhere for the leading firefighters, but unless someone requests Haverhill we shall have to train new recruits for the two firefighters. They would then have to go on a 12-week training course starting in September.
"There are no problems with the fire cover in Haverhill, we are turning out two fire crews without any problems. I am anxious to bring in the extra fire cover as quickly as possible, but it is not going to happen over night."
However, next month will see the arrival of a new Operational Support Unit to cover the west of the country from its base in Haverhill.
The lengthy campaign against the move failed, but none of the four firefighters has come to Haverhill.
Now the fire service is seeking to promote staff from elsewhere for two leading firefighter posts at Haverhill, and to advertise for two more firefighters.
Ken Seager, Suffolk's Assistant Chief Fire Officer (technical), recommended the changes because of the increased fire risk, particularly of an industrial nature, in the Haverhill area.
He said this week his intention was to fill the four additional jobs at Haverhill as quickly as possible.
Mr Seager explained: "Part of our agreement with the Sudbury officers was that they could express a preference regarding their posts and unfortunately none has expressed a preference to go to Haverhill.
"We are hoping to promote someone from elsewhere for the leading firefighters, but unless someone requests Haverhill we shall have to train new recruits for the two firefighters. They would then have to go on a 12-week training course starting in September.
"There are no problems with the fire cover in Haverhill, we are turning out two fire crews without any problems. I am anxious to bring in the extra fire cover as quickly as possible, but it is not going to happen over night."
However, next month will see the arrival of a new Operational Support Unit to cover the west of the country from its base in Haverhill.
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