Nine out of 14 part-time fire stations could close in cost-cutting plan

Aug 16 2010 Huddersfield Daily Examiner

“There will be considerable changes. The Government has talked about 20-30% cuts but we won’t know about that until October.

“There will be a 12-week consultation from April, 2011, with the first year of the plan.

“Whatever is proposed there will be a 12-week public consultation.

“We can’t rule out anything at the moment, but we really want to maintain frontline services.

“We don’t want people to worry.”

But one part-time firefighter was less optimistic.

He said: “The community of this area are very concerned about having fire cover removed.

“We’ve heard that nine out of 14 retained stations will be closing and people are concerned that the cover won’t be anything like what it is now.

“It’s quite frightening until we know.

“I’m almost positive you’ll see some stations closing in the next 18 months.”

Another source said: “They are looking at shutting nine retained stations in the next three or four years because of the budget cuts.

“There’s about 150 of the 250 lads going to lose their jobs. These lads give a lot of commitment and these cuts are sticking two fingers up at them.

“There have been meetings about it this week.

“It’s definitely going to happen. Featherstone and Holmfirth and one or two other retained stations are staying but the rest are going.

“We believe Slaithwaite, Marsden and Meltham are all going.”