THE FIRE BRIGADES
UNION
STRATHCLYDE Parkhead Fire Station Closure
…PRESS RELEASE…PRESS RELEASE…PRESS RELEASE…PRESS RELEASE…
Immediate Release Friday 13th February 2009
Anger at Strathclyde Fire Board decision to Close Parkhead Fire Station
The Councillors on Strathclyde Fire & Rescue Board have today decided to accept management proposals to close Parkhead Fire Station.
The decision was a majority vote of 17 to 6, with the Labour councillors dominating the decision.
In his presentation to the Board, the Chief Fire Officer intimated that all those who oppose the closure should “reflect” on their comments and more or less inferred that they were being deceitful & dishonest.
Professional Firefighters, Local Residents & Local Politicians are outraged that one of the busiest fire stations in Scotland will now be lost.
John McFadden, Brigade Treasurer & Campaign Coordinator for the Strathclyde Fire Brigades Union said “The evidence to show that Parkhead Fire Station must remain open is overwhelming. It is the busiest single appliance Fire Station in Scotland and covers some of the poorest & most needy Communities in the UK.
“The Communities continue to record some of the highest fatality & casualty rates in Scotland. It is clear that those Communities need their Fire Station.
“The decision to close the station defies all logic. To remove the station and serve these Communities from a Fire Station further away, will only serve to INCREASE RESPONSE TIMES and INCREASE FATALITY & CASUALTY RATES.
Ken Ross, Scottish Regional Secretary for the Fire Brigades Union said “The members of the Board made the decision to close the station based on a Consultation Report that was weighted towards the management proposals and which disregarded the plethora of submissions opposing the closure. It was highly manipulated resulting in a decision that was in no way balanced or fully informed.
“The comments from the Chief Officer were a disgrace. He not only swept aside any comment or view that was contrary to his, but inferred that those expressing those views, were being deliberately misleading & fictitious. He has unilaterally decided that he is right and that Firefighters, local politicians & local residents are wrong. Indeed, the only group of people who are convinced of the case to close Parkhead Fire Station is Strathclyde FRS senior management. All evidence supports the retention of the station.
“The motivation by management to close the station is nothing to do with public safety and everything to do with saving money and reducing front line jobs. Closing it in order to generate money to help pay for a new training centre is entirely unacceptable.
“Professional Firefighters know how vital the station is to the Communities it serves. Strathclyde Fire Board members will now need to seriously reflect on the decision that they have made today and think seriously about how, in future, such processes are undertaken.
***ENDS***
For Further Information Contact:
Ken Ross Scottish Secretary Mobile: 07801-047-602
John McFadden Strathclyde Brigade Treasurer Mobile: 07801-047-612 Campaign Coordinator
Alex Miller Strathclyde Brigade Secretary Mobile: 07890-630-988
NOTE FOR EDITORS
Strathclyde Fire & Rescue Service managers state that the new proposed Fire Station in Cambuslang will be able to attend incidents to Communities currently served by Parkhead Fire Station in 8 minutes. The average Response Time currently achieved by appliances from Parkhead Fire Station is 3 minutes 34 seconds.
The Communities covered by Parkhead Fire Station are growing. Over the coming 5 years, it is projected that there will be:
10,000 New Homes;
Current Special Life Risks include such premises as:
Celtic Park Football Stadium; |
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It is the intention of Strathclyde Fire & Rescue to provide fire cover in future for the Parkhead Area from a new fire Station in the Cambuslang Area that would also serve Cambuslang and surrounding areas. This will lead to attendance times to incidents increasing from 3 to 4 minutes now to 5 to 8 minutes or more on many occasions.
This is completely unacceptable everyone knows that fire spreads quickly and every second counts. Please contact your local Councillor and MSP to protest and to insist that Parkhead Fire Station is saved.
This closure is being proposed despite the ongoing regeneration of the East End of Glasgow and the massive redevelopment in the Parkhead area as a result of the 2014 Commonwealth Games and the M74 extension
Parkhead Fire Station is the busiest one pump station in Strathclyde and last year responded to and resolved almost 2000 incidents.
The new Cambuslang station will have just 2 fire engines the same as the current Cambuslang Fire Station. This would also mean as well as the station closing Parkhead’s Fire Engine and the operational firefighters who crew it would no longer be available to respond to incidents or carry out vital Fire prevention and Community Safety work including free Home Fire Safety Visits.
A public consultation on the new proposals has now started. including Public meetings to consult the over 60,000, residents of the 30,000 homes and the many businesses, workplaces,hospitals schools and care homes in the Parkhead,Haghill,Shettleston,Carntyne,Tollcross, Riddrie,Mount Vernon and Dalmarnock areas that the Parkhead Fire Station serves. Please attend the consultation meetings and demand that Parkhead Fire Station is saved.
For further information please
contact Fire Brigades Union Action Group co-ordinator John Mc Fadden on
0141-221-2313 or 07801047616
e-mail- or write to 52 St.Enoch
Square Glasgow G1 4AA