Stockton MP calls for new PM to step up and save our fire services
It's as Cleveland Fire Brigade take on more part-time retained staff, despite a number of full-time staff redundancies in recent years.
There's calls for the government to step up and save our reigon's fire services - before lives are put at risk.
Stockton North MP Alex Cunningham voiced his concerns about Cleveland Fire Brigade on Twitter this week.
It follows Cleveland Fire Brigade's recent campaign to recruit more part-time retained firefighters, despite a number of full-time staff redundancies in recent years.
Fire stations across the UK have been hit by government cuts, leaving response times at their lowest for 20 years.
Mr Cunningham said: "The Fire Authority have to manage their budget and the government have cut that budget tremendously over time.
"I know they've got to try and cope with that, but I'm just not convinced that part-time fire officers is really the way forward.
"We've seen more and more permanent jobs go and more and more jobs replaced with retained firefighters.
"It's a loss of skill in the area and I just wonder how far we can go with cuts before we get to breaking point."
The MP is calling for the new Prime Minister Theresa May to invest more money in fire services, especially in areas with high-risk like Teesside.
Dave Green, National Officer at the Fire Brigade's Union said: "Part-time or retained firefighters are not available at such short notice or as quickly as whole-time firefighters.
"So if you want a professional and a rapid response, it should really be whole-time firefighters.
"How long it takes for us to get to a fire or an incident is now the slowest for 20 years.
"If an engine is now two minutes slower getting there across the UK average, the reality is that fire deaths and injuries are going to start rising."
We contacted Cleveland Fire Service for comment and
Phil Lancaster, Director of Community Protection at Cleveland Fire Brigade, said: “The retained fire appliance in Stockton is the one previously operational at our Marine Station which closed on 1 April 2016 as part of proposals publicly consulted on and agreed in 2014. No firefighters were made redundant as a result of this change.
“We are currently recruiting retained (part-time) firefighters at a number of our fire stations and retained firefighters are trained to the same standard as full time firefighters.
“Our emergency response standards are among the best in the country and are carefully considered as part of our robust risk management arrangements designed to protect local communities.”