If you want a fire & rescue service that keeps you safe, then your vote matters on the 6th of May. Please make sure you are registered and that you use your vote in all the elections on that day. If you are already registered, make it easy to vote by applying for a postal vote, but please note that your completed application form must arrive by 20th April.
I am not a member of a political party and my vote is not guaranteed to any particular party. That is because none of them have policies that I am in full agreement with, so when I vote I consider the candidates, their policies and their performance.
Whilst campaigning in support of our fire & rescue services I have engaged with politicians, local and national, from every political party that will listen. I have yet to decide which candidates will get my vote in May and I will not try to influence anyone else to vote for specific candidates or political parties.
However, based on past performance, the one thing I am sure of is that I will not be voting for any Conservative candidates. That is because Conservative Government policies and Conservative Councillors on fire & rescue authorities have, over the last ten years, done immense damage to our fire & rescue service.
As a result we are all less safe
Policies and decisions have not only been inept, they have been arrogantly steamrollered through with dishonest claims, unsubstantiated assurances and inadequate scrutiny.
Thanks to significant public protest in 2019, the cuts planned by the Conservative controlled Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Authority were watered down. Yet nine frontline fire engines have been removed, which means longer response times when an additional fire engine is required in those areas. For example, when a second fire engine and crew is needed in Lynton, for a second incident or to assist the first crew, it now has to travel at least 13 miles. Even more if the nearest crew is unavailable.
Unfortunately, you cannot directly vote for Members of the Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Authority, as they are Councillors appointed by Devon County Council, Somerset County Council, Torbay Council and Plymouth City Council. So, it is in elections for those councils that you should consider your vote wisely.
The threat to other fire stations has not gone away
The Conservatives made it quite clear that they have not abandoned plans to close Appledore, Ashburton, Colyton, Kingston, Porlock and Woolacombe. They said they "will be subject to periodic review", which means the axe is still hanging over them.
Conservative Councillors are also still trying to bully firefighters at Barnstaple, Exmouth and Paignton into accepting new shift systems that will increase response times at night in those areas.
A shabby way to treat dedicated staff and wholly irresponsible
to use the safety of the public as a bargaining chip in staff negotiations.
From Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services inspection report
Third rate fire appliances
Conservative Councillors also approved the replacement of 45 fully equipped fire engines with inadequately equipped vans. They claimed that risk assessments had been carried out but there is no documentation to substantiate that claim. An investigation by the Information Commissioner found that not only were there no risk assessments, there were no reports, no memos, no emails, absolutely nothing to show that RIV locations were determined by the risk in those areas.
This dishonesty was exposed after 15 Rapid Intervention Vehicles, dubbed Really Inadequate Vehicles by many firefighters, had been supplied. There are disturbing rumours that Conservative Councillors intend to increase the number of these third rate vehicles. Hampshire Fire & Rescue Service had similar plans but wisely decided to trial them before placing an order. They concluded they were inadequate and abandoned their plans in favour of more compact but well equipped fire engines.
The Conservative Government is now talking about taking the fire & rescue service away from fire & rescue authorities and giving control to Police & Crime Commissioners (PCC). There is no justification for this PCC empire building, and it will give the public even less of a say in how their fire & rescue services are run.
Conservatives, local and national, have already seriously undermined the ability of our firefighters to respond quickly and effectively when lives and property are in danger. Their plans will see that response get ever longer and less effective.
Fire & Rescue Services are not safe in Conservative hands
