Firefighters in Scotland are fighting back against proposed cuts following over a decade of underfunding by the Scottish government.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is currently consulting on 23 proposals to downgrade fire cover at a number of specific stations, or close them entirely. The FBU is demanding an end to cuts, urging union members and members of the public to respond to the consultation.
Local campaigns led by FBU members have taken off across Scotland.
On the launch date of the Service Delivery Review (SDR) consultation, a public meeting was organised by the Community Council in Hawick in the South East.
In Lochgelly, Fife, FBU members and MSP’s teams delivered over 10,000 flyers to residents and businesses warning of the risks of losing fire cover. A Lochgelly public meeting was attended by local MP Richard Baker, with cross party support, and was followed by a rally outside the fire station.
Town hall meetings and campaign events are scheduled in areas across Scotland over August and September.
FBU members have taken the campaign to both the Scottish parliament and Westminster, holding lobbying sessions before the summer recess. Questions and motions raising concerns have been raised in the chamber, lodged by MSPs including Mercedes Villalba, Rachel Hamilton, and John Lamont.
Since 2013, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service resource budget has been cut in real terms by £58 million, with 1,253 firefighter posts axed; resulting in response times slowing from 6 minutes 51 seconds to 8 minutes and 20 seconds.
FBU regional secretary for Scotland John McKenzie described the service as “already on its knees”.
This is unacceptable and any proposals to further compromise our service and public safety must be rejected.
This spring and summer have seen some of the biggest wildfires in Scotland’s history; burning more than 11,800 hectares of moorland and woodland near Carrbridge and Dava according to the Moorland Trust.
When a house fire broke out in Ballater in late June, it took almost an hour for the first appliance to arrive, as all nearby appliances were deployed to the wildfires in Morrayshire.
FBU general secretary Steve Wright said “the FBU stands with all members in Scotland fighting these dangerous cuts.”
The public consultation is live until 16 September: bit.ly/4flkWg8
