Firefighters’ representatives have written to Cumbria’s police commissioner to ask him drop plans to take over control of the service.
Peter McCall has submitted a business case to the Government to become police, fire and crime commissioner in light of local government reorganisation. which will see the fire service’s existing management – Cumbria County Council – dissolved.
It, along with the six district authorities, will become two unitary authorities – Cumberland, covering the areas of Allerdale, Carlisle and Copeland and Westmorland and Furness, covering Barrow, Eden and South Lakeland – in April next year.
Mr McCall launched a consultation about his plans, which have been criticised by the Fire Brigades Union. The union claimed the change in governance would result in the closure of three fire stations and the loss of 18 jobs. Mr McCall has maintained that it would only mean the transfer of governance and frontline services would carry on as normal.
The consultation received 363 responses. A statement from Mr McCall’s office said: “Most of the responses were received by employees of Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service, Cumbria County Council and Cumbria Constabulary.
“There were a significant number of opportunities for members of the public to take part in the consultation survey with only a small choosing to do so, demonstrating that the most members of the public are not interested or do not have strong views either way.”
Fifty four per cent of respondents said they preferred the option of a combined fire and rescue authority to take on the fire service and 46 per cent opted for Mr McCall’s plans.
The response has prompted the Fire Brigades Union to call for Mr McCall to drop his proposal.
The letter asks: “As the voice of the public and the staff have responded, the Fire Brigades Union asks are you now willing to withdraw your proposal and accept a democratically reached decision?”
Ed Burrows, Fire Brigades Union North West regional secretary, said: “The consultation response was clear: Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service should not be run by a police, fire and crime commissioner.
“We fully expect Mr McCall that will follow through on this consultation by taking the next step and withdrawing the plan. Bundling fire in with the police helps no one.”
The union fears fire stations at Frizington, Staveley and Arnside would be put at risk because they have previously been under threat of closure and a commissioner would “have the latitude to implement cuts that impact fire disproportionately relative to the police”.
Following the results of the consultation, Mr McCall’s office said they would be sent to the Government as part of the business case.
