Fears over Powys part-time firefighters plan
Monday 12th September 2011, 2:16PM BST.
A decision to replace full-time front-line firefighters tackling emergencies with part-time retained crews in three Powys towns could put lives in danger, it has been claimed.
Joyce Watson, AM for Mid and West Wales, said she feared standards would drop and response times would suffer.
In a bid to save £1.2m, Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service is redeploying 21 firefighters in Newtown, Llandrindod Wells and Brecon to work in the community.
Their role will be filled by part-time, retained firefighters, who will respond to 999 calls and major incidents.
Mrs Watson said: “Despite the fire service’s assurances that response times will not be affected, I am concerned that in a rural area like this, where small businesses might be reluctant or unable to employ staff on flexible arrangements, recruiting enough part-time firefighters to cover emergencies could prove to be a real problem.”
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In response to this, I can only say that Wem, Prees and Baschurch, to name but 3, are staffed by part time firemen, and they do a stirling job.
They are very dedicated, and very professional in the way they go about their job, so, I woukd say to Joyce Watson, don’t worry, you’re in safe hands.
Hats off to the part timers.
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I agree with Colin.D. retained fire-fighters do sterling work but what happens when they are called from their full time employment several times a day? their bosses will soon get fed up with losing workers regularly to attend fires, and will eventually stop their goodwill in allowing retained fire-fighters to turn out, leaving fire engines with no crews or even worse responding with depleted crews making it dangerous to attend incidents to both the public and themselves
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jeffb. I have worked where 4 or 5 part timers have been employed, and the boss was quite happy to put up with their absences, after all, it could be HIS house or business one day.
In 10 years there, the times they were called out more than once per day could be counted on one hand, and when they were called out, ye gods, did they move, their response times were excellent. The boss reckoned if they moved that fast while working, he could get rid of the rest of us.
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By the fact that they are part-time means that they are less experienced, no matter how dedicated they are. It comes down once more to cost cutting by local authorities. We must not under any circumstances reduce the numbers of full time Fire fighters in order to save a few pounds – at what expence LIVES???
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