Staffordshire fire service 'could not cope' with another Alton Towers smash if cuts go ahead
Planned cuts to Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service would leave it unable to cope with major disasters like the Alton Towers crash, senior politicians have claimed.
Staffordshire Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Ellis and South Staffordshire MP Gavin Williamson have raised 'grave concerns' over the level of emergency cover there will be left in the county.
The proposal is for emergency cover to be removed from 18 fire stations and the number of engines reduced from 42 at 33 stations to 15 engines at 15 stations across the region to save with £5.7m.
Mr Ellis said: "The fire service put out a consultation document and asked me to reply as the Police and Crime Commissioner. My response was 'you have to be kidding'. Reducing the fire service by two thirds, closing fire stations before they have even been built does not sit comfortably with me.
"Front-line services are a fundamental we need.
"The day this kicked off their was a major smash on M6 tragedy at Alton Towers, I don't believe a fire service two thirds smaller than it is now would be able to deal with those.
"I don't think they are practicable and Staffordshire would be left in a catastrophic state if they go through."
Chief fire officer Peter Dartford is to travel to Westminster to meet with MPs.
Mr Williamson echoed Mr Ellis's concerns.
He said: "These proposals are utterly cack-handed, and insane.
"The cover that rural areas of the county will be left with will be totally inadequate.
"I think it is irresponsible and short-sighted.
"I have grave concerns about how the fire and rescue service would respond to an incident like Alton Towers in the future.
"I have had a number of firefighters contact me with concerns over the plans. What would be left is a fire service in name only.
"It will put lives at risk."
Mr Williamson said the plan will turn fire stations into little more than 'glorified community centres' - including some that are still under construction.
He called the move a 'grotesque' waste of public money in a strongly worded letter.
Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service's group manager Glynn Luznyj said: "The new delivery model is just one of 10 options that the Fire and Rescue Authority has consulted on.
"This model would present a complete change in strategic direction for the Service.
"However, the Authority felt it was important for a range of options to be explored, however radical they may be, to be confident that no stone has been left unturned as we strive to identify ways to make financial savings.
"Under this particular option if there was a large incident the service would use existing procedures and plans to manage the incident effectively. These would include moving appliances around to ensure resilience across the county is evenly spread and also calling on neighbouring fire services."
