Fire Cut FURY

10.48.18am GMT Thu 1st Nov 2007

Tories on Kent County Council are backing plans to cut the cover at Folkestone Fire Station almost in HALF! Shepway Liberal Democrats are joining Folkestone firefighters and local residents to fight this devastating cut. What the cuts would mean in full:

• 24 full-time Firefighters to go

• One fire engine to go

• High rescue ladder to go

• Response times to increase

The high ladder will be moved to Ashford, increasing response times to any emergency above the 4th floor by at least 15 minutes.

Lib Dem Leader Lynne Beaumont said:

"This is simply wrong. Even the people proposing this change accept that cover in Folkestone and Shepway will get worse.

"Our local firefighters have huge concerns that these cuts will put local lives at risk. We must back them and tell Kent to stop this plan - now."

The Kent Fire and Rescue Service will be opening a consultation on the proposed cuts which runs from early November to the middle of January, publishing adverts in November for the public to have their say.

Members of the public can complete an on-line survey from 5th November at www.kent.fire-uk.org or request a copy now by emailing irmp@kent.fire-uk.org or telephoning 01622 692121.