7:00am Saturday 7th November 2009
A LEADING Labour councillor fears a reduction in fire cover in Bury for one day a week could compromise people’s safety.
Cllr Mike Connolly is worried that if a serious blaze occurs on a Thursday — when the Bury station is reduced to one pump from two — then people and property could be at risk while extra cover is brought in from outside.
Bury Council’s Labour group leader spoke out after it was revealed that Bury would be reduced to one pump between 9am and 6pm on Thursdays.
Fire chiefs have defended the move, saying the period was statistically the quietest in terms of call-outs.
Cllr Connolly said: “I think people are saving money while at the same time compromising people’s safety.
“The bottom line is that each Thursday between 9am and 6pm, there is one fire engine based at Bury instead of two.
“If there is a fire anywhere in Bury, then there is only one pump. If cover has to come from outside the town, from Heywood, Ramsbottom or Whitefield, then that will take longer and people and property could be at risk.
“I believe this reduction in service compromises people’s safety.” Cllr Jack Walton, one of two Bury Council representatives on the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Authority, commented: “Locally, there are two other fire stations, in Ramsbottom and Whitefield, which have one pump each whereas Bury has two.
“On the day that one is stood down in Bury, it still means that each of the three stations has one pump.”
Cllr Walton said he was aware that members of the public could be concerned, but denied that the move would have any significant impact on existing fire cover.
A Greater Manchester Fire Service spokesman confirmed that the Thursday day shift was chosen because, statistically, it was the time when least incidents occurred. Money saved would be used for staff training.
The spokesman added: “At the moment, the service across Greater Manchester meets every target in terms of reaching incidents within seven minutes of receiving a call.
“We are very confident that we will continue to meet those targets in the future.”
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