Caithness Map :: Links to Site Map Great value Unlimited Broadband from an award winning provider  

 

Firefighters March On Holyrood In Protest At ‘Dangerous' Cuts To Fire Service

21st November 2017

Photograph of Firefighters March On Holyrood In Protest At ‘Dangerous' Cuts To Fire Service

Scottish firefighters will descend on Holyrood this coming Thursday (23 November 2017) to protest against leaked plans to shut fire stations and cut jobs in the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service as a result of budget cuts.

Earlier this month, it was revealed that the Scottish government are considering the move despite having made commitments to safeguard frontline resources in 2013 when eight fire services were merged into one.

Denise Christie, regional secretary of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) in Scotland, said: "Each day across Scotland, dozens of fire engines cannot respond to emergencies because there are simply not enough firefighters to crew them. It is a disgrace that more cuts are even being considered.

"We have lost over 700 frontline firefighters in Scotland since 2013 and response times to emergencies have been lengthening in recent years as a result. This is unsustainable and firefighters are demanding an end to the cuts and are asking for a commitment from the Scottish government for future investment."

"This is not the level of service that we expect or deserve and the politicians know this. It's why there is a broad political consensus that these cuts are bad for public safety."

Hundreds of firefighters are expected at the demonstration due to begin at 11am outside the Scottish Parliament.