A large crowd gathered at Shanklin Fire Station today to show their disapproval at the proposed closure of the station.
During the handing over of the petition of 5,720 signatures, Steve Marsh informed Cllr Barry Abraham, who is cabinet member with responsibility the Island fire service, “You voted on statistics that were false.” He continued, “It’s indecent that you have accepted what the Fire Brigade has put forward about closing this station before … the new Lake one is built.”
Calling on his past experience of being a fire officer at Shanklin, Steve Marsh said, “If you want to save money, why are we running with a Chief and three Assistant Chief fire officers? In my time, there was one deputy.”
34 managers and 37 full-time fire fighters
He continued, “Look at your management system – You’ve got 34 managers and 37 full-time fire fighters.” This led to a massive cheer of support from the assembled crowd.
Concluding, he said, “You need to look at yourselves in the mirror and say who is going to be responsible, who is going to be accountable when it all goes pear-shaped?”
Cllr Abraham: “I fully understand …”
Cllr Abraham then had an opportunity to respond, “I fully understand why there is a strength of feeling in the Shanklin area.
“I’ve asked the officers to go back and look at the evidence that you have presented on ‘turn out times,’ that it will take to come out from Sandown to Shanklin.
“I apologise for the length of time that it has taken.”
Steve Marsh then asked how long it was going to take, given the IWC is supposed to respond within defined periods of time. Cllr Abraham responded, “Hopefully when people are back from holiday.”
“If Sandown get their full day manning crew, they will shut this station – that’s within a month,” Steve Marsh chipped in.
Abraham: “If mistakes … we will have to re-look at the decision”
“As soon as I have the information available, it will be made public,” responded Cllr Abraham, continuing, “If there are any mistakes in that, then we will have to re-look at the decision that we’ve actually made.”
As the presentation was coming to a close, Cllr David Williams – elected member for Shanklin Central – said, “I can assure that work is being done at County Hall, we’re not sitting there doing nothing. The fight goes on as far as I’m concerned.”
Have a listen …
[audio:http://otw-audio.s3.amazonaws.com/2010.08.31-handing-over-the-shanklin-fire-station-petition.mp3]
To have an understanding on how this was all received by those gathered there, have a listen to the reaction.
