MP Takes Night Time Fire Cover Fight to Westminster

12.35.59pm GMT Tue 27th Feb 2007

Falmouth and Camborne MP, Julia Goldsworthy, has met with Cornwall's Chief Fire Officer, Matt Littmoden, to discuss the proposals to reduce night time fire cover in the constituency.

Commenting after the meeting, Julia Goldsworthy MP said:

"As a result of inadequate funding from central Government, the County Council has been put in a very difficult position. Budgetary pressures are forcing consideration of reductions to some frontline services and I continue to be very concerned about the impact that this will have on public safety.

"The Chief Fire Officer has been given the unenviable task of having to balance the books and he has come forward with these proposals to reduce the night time cover in Falmouth and Camborne. Other options available are equally unpalatable and include making redundancies or merging Cornwall's fire brigade with another force.

"It is clear that unless the Government steps in and provides Cornwall with the funding it deserves, unacceptable cuts to services are going to have to be made. I am hoping to secure a Parliamentary debate on this matter at the earliest opportunity and have written to Ministers outlining my concerns."

The proposals are currently under public consultation and Ms Goldsworthy's meeting followed a series of meetings that she has had with fire fighters across the constituency and representatives from the Fire Brigade Union.