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Over 200 firefighters and people from towns in Warwickshire gathered outside Warwickshire County Council’s meeting to protest at their plans to close 4 local fire stations.

“They’re going to put peoples’ lives in danger, both the public and firefighters” said Steve Roberts a local Fire Brigades Union (FBU) member.

The Tory run council had previously wanted to close 7 stations and on the day they reduced their closure programme to 3 which shows that vigorous campaigning, as seen across this county, can have an effect.

But firefighters are still angry. In common with people in Warwickshire they see the council as endangering people. Mark Rattray, Brigade secretary of the FBU said that David “Cameron promised he wouldn’t cut frontline services, but what’s more frontline than firefighters and fire engines?”

“They may hope that after cuts, neighbouring Hereford & Worcestershire Fire service will cover the gaps but they face cuts there soon as well.”

The decision was preceded by a political farce. 3 local Tory MP’s said they were against cuts, yet their Tory council voted for them. But not all Tory councillors did, which shows that when the ConDem coalition plans for a slaughter of public services across the country meets the determined opposition of working people, then their weaknesses can be exposed.

Steve said many were shocked at the lies of the Council and that several councillors who had indicated opposition to cuts, then voted for them at the meeting. So fire stations in Warwick, Studley and Brinklow are set for closure. 

The FBU will now move to ballot for industrial action to continue their opposition to closures and a council risking the lives of both the public and firefighters. The campaign across Warwickshire must continue.

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