Suffolk Fire Cuts – Public Safety At Risk

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) today highlights another cut to Suffolk Fire & Rescue Service which is putting lives at risk.

Prevention is better than the cure, and that is why fire safety legislation has been written to prevent the repeat of such disasters as the Bradford City fire which claimed 56 lives.

Suffolk Fire & Rescue Service has a Fire Safety Department that supports those managing businesses and public buildings to comply with the regulations and to protect the public from fire disasters.

But Suffolk County Council’s proposals this year will mean fire safety inspections to premises such as workplaces, schools, hospitals, care homes, hotels and public buildings are estimated to be cut by a third.

Andy Message, Acting Brigade Secretary….“Fewer inspections will mean more chance of dangerous breaches of Fire Safety Regulations putting the public at risk and will mean less chance of those ignorant or unscrupulous owners getting found out or prosecuted for offences such as locking fire exits and blocking escape routes.”

Currently Suffolk’s professional Fire Safety Officers conduct around 1,500 inspections a year, follow up complaints made by the public and advise on plans for new buildings.

Andy Vingoe, Brigade Chair…. “The Fire Safety Department provide vital support for owners and managers of premises.  This cut will mean Suffolk County Council has less resilience in helping people stop fires in the first place at the same time as they are cutting the frontline resources to respond to 999 fire calls. This is a recipe for disaster.”

Suffolk County Council is currently asking for public comment on these proposals, and others. Go to www.suffolk.gov.uk/IRMP and make your feelings known, or find the FBU Facebook page ‘Stop Suffolk Fire Cuts’.

Firefighters from Felixstowe will be talking to members of the public in the town this Saturday, asking them to have their say on this cut, and other cuts across Suffolk, in particular the slowing down of response times in Felixstowe.

Contact: Andy Message 07967 040909

Andy Vingoe  07967 041039

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