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Re: Council leader warns of risk to lives following Fire Service cuts

With these cuts to the Folkestone fire service happening, does it mean the response to the Channel Tunnel will be affected?

As well as to the tax paying members of Shepway and the surrounding areas having to put up with operation stack, meaning not much help coming from other areas, and the police being used as a traffic control unit rather than doing the job they all joined up to do, the emergency response in this area is decreasing rapidly while central and local government are trying to enlarge the populated area.

Just to let them know if you add 2 and 2 you do not get 1, if an area enlarges the way this one has you need to increase services not decrease them.

RT

Three men who set off from Sandwich, bound for France in an open boat sparked a seven-hour search and rescue yesterday (Thursday) involving Dover coastguards, lifeboats, helicopters and  police - on both sides of the English Channel.

The alarm was raised just after 10am from the mother of one of the men, who she described as having 'mental health issues'.

The search continued until around 6pm, when French authorities confirmed that the boat, which had a small outboard motor, had landed between Cap Gris Nez and Calais and those aboard had been arrested.

Murray Milligan, of Dover Coastguard, said: "This is an extremely busy shipping lane and we understand that none of the three had any experience in sailing or navigation, which made this a particularly dangerous undertaking."

A spokesman for Kent police confirmed the men had returned to the UK and would not be facing charges.

The Leader of Shepway Council has said he is bitterly disappointed by Kent Fire and Rescue Authority’s decision to approve cuts that will mean the loss of one full-time fire engine, 24 firefighters and a specialist height vehicle from Folkestone Fire Station.

Cllr Robert Bliss said the council had opposed the cuts when the matter went out to public consultation.

“This matter was the subject of detailed scrutiny by the community overview committee as well as being discussed twice at full council. We said then and we will say again that a diminished service will mean increased risk to life. This risk might be marginal - but is not acceptable.”

Kent Fire and Rescue Authority voted through the cuts on Wednesday (20 February).

Cllr Bliss said the council appreciated the financial restraints facing the Kent Fire and Rescue Service but said there were widespread concerns about the cuts.

“We sent a very detailed response to the public consultation which had cross-party support. We questioned the risk analysis the fire authority had carried out, highlighted issues that make Folkestone unique and said why we thought the district deserved to keep the excellent fire cover it has had so far. We believe we made a strong case for keeping this cover and I am very disappointed that we were not successful in convincing the authority of our case.”

Twenty four full-time firefighters in Shepway are to be lost under Kent Fire Service’s new risk management plan which was passed today (February 20),  by 14 votes to one.

Folkestone will also lose its second full-time engine and turntable ladder under the shake up.

Shepway Liberal Democrat Council Leader Lynne Beaumont said: "This decision is a disgrace, and will harm our fire services not just in Folkestone but across Shepway.

"The case for these cuts that has been presented to the public is incomplete and flawed. Even the Fire authority's own figures showed there is a big increase in the chance of road accident fatalities as a result of the cuts.

"Operation Stack in conjunction with a major emergency in Folkestone would currently leave the area without external backup. Until Operation Stack as an infrastructure issue is dealt with, this is a dangerous gamble with lives."