This in from the IW Fire Brigade Union, in their own words. Ed
Fire Brigades Union Officials are dismayed that Cabinet Member for Fire and Community Safety, Councillor Barry Abraham, will be making a decision on the transfer of the Island’s emergency fire control to Surrey Fire and Rescue Service today without taking up the offer of a briefing from the Fire Brigades Union about their significant concerns.
An invite to Councillor Barry Abraham was made by IOW FBU Officials last week and was repeated during the Ian Mac show on Vectis Radio but has not been responded to.
Barry Abraham failed to respond
Pete Mawhood, IOW FBU Chair, said “Regrettably Councillor Abraham has failed to respond and once again we extend the invite to him and any other Councillors who wish to be briefed about our concerns. We are extremely disappointed that such a critical decision will be made without input from our members”.
During the past 24 hours Cllr Abraham received the current 1,800 plus signatories of the ongoing petition to ‘Save the isle of Wight Fire Control Centre’, including 100 plus signatories from serving Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service firefighters (wholetime, retained and control), officers and civilian staff.
Strong opposition to control centre move
Paul Watts, FBU Regional Control Rep, said ‘This reflects the deeply held concerns within the IOW Fire Service at the prospect of the moving the Fire Control to the mainland and FBU members are strongly opposed to the plan. They have not had the opportunity to formally comment on the proposals nor have their views been sought by senior managers or the IOW Council’.
He added ‘The loss of vital local knowledge could mean a delay to the mobilisation of fire appliances in response to emergencies. It goes without saying that any delay due to uncertainty could, in a critical situation, have life-threatening consequences’.
