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IMPORTANT PLEASE READ This website and forum has been living on borrowed web server time for years. At the end of this month silsden.net in it's present form will cease to exist, BUT there is a new silsden.net in the making, and a new forum, and lots of exciting new things coming to this space. Peter |
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Replies in this thread : 21
Author |
Topic : More fire service cuts |
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| gazzer |
In todays T&A there is a report detailing the next round of fire sevice cuts.We were promised that the loss of an engine at Silsden would not be detrimental because the cover from Keighley would be sufficient. The new proposals are to reduce Keighley to one engine. So thats one full time engine serving nearly 90,000 people. And if more houses are built in the area do not worry because some idiot from the fire service called Jim Butters says new houses dont burn like old ones. Now I dont know if Jim reads this site, or if he can read. But the fire service changed its title to "fire and rescue" to represent the changing nature of the service. A larger population will provide greater challanges no less. Luckily or unlucky Bradford Council havve someone representing us, the public on the West Yorkshire Fire Authority. But in best Bradford Council practice our representative said "Bradford Councillor Valerie Binney , the Council’s Conservative representative on the West Yorkshire Fire Authority, did not want to comment on the plans before September’s meeting." www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/9857645._Lives_at_risk__warning_in_fire_service_shake_up_plans/ |
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| gazzer |
Fire services up and down the country have been stretched to their limits over the last few days dealing with floods. Cornwall had very appliance out the other night. It has been a struggle with the demands even at current staffing levels. So, after the cuts proposed for West Yorkshire, how would our regional fire service cope. The excuse for cuts is that there are less fires now and smoke alarms and building regs will prevent loss of life. How will a smoke alarm prevent loss of life to someone stranded by floodwater? |
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| paperclip |
this post has been edited 2 time(s) I know you all hate party political stuff and do understand why -- but this is a really important issue for eveyone. Fire Service managers spoke at a recent Town Council meeting in Silsden and did a good job.They must. Public service managers are often tasked by government to implement huge and sometimes unworkable budget cuts, while reassuring the public about safety and front line delivery. This is especially necessary in 2012 and things will be worse next year. They nearly convinced me! But last week 3 guys from the Fire Brigade Union came to speak to Keighley and District Constituency Labour. I know you are going to say 'vested interests', 'early retirement and golden pension options' and 'the Unions are to blame for everything' etc But these 3 men have had years of local fire fighting experience and know exactly how long it will take to get from a grass fire on the tops to Silsden etc. They say that the info about how long it will take the first engine to arrive is accurate but if you've got a house fire you need two and if people are trapped three. The smoke alarm service has already gone and replacements are no longer free so......? Pay and conditions were never mentioned and I believe the anxiety they expressed is reasonable and genuine. The consultation period on the Fire Service cuts ends on 30/11. Local Labour will be writing to all our Yorkshire councillors and MPs by then. In January we'll hold some street stalls with the FBU to feature the potential effects of future cuts in and around Keighley, trying not to scare people rigid. Can you find time to write to a councillor, MP too? Doesn't matter how you vote. This affects everyone. |
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| countryman |
Time is running out to get our voice heard. At least Silsden Town Council and our Independent Councillor are opposed to the cuts www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/archive/2012/09/14/keighley_news+%28keighley_news%29/9928216.Steeton_and_Silsden_councils__fire_cover_fears/ Unfortunately some councillors are happy to accept the cuts without a fight www.keighleynews.co.uk/archive/2011/09/02/Skipton+News+%28news_skipton%29/9228053.Silsden_fire_engine_could_be_lost/ The Conservatives did not oppose the loss of Silsden's engine last year when they had the chance. Labour control the Fire Authority so they could change the budget if they wanted let's remind them all they represent us and need to take notice of our opinions. |
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| ec |
Thank You Countryman,for once again highlighting Cllr. Mallinson's contempt for the people of Silsden,S.T.C. and our brave and well respected firemen, who are for rescue of people, animals, (we do have a large farming community) traffic accidents, (sadly to many of late) pumping out flood water,moor fires,support to Keighley & Skipton brigades when required.Fortunately Cllr.Naylor and S.T.C. are united for the retention of our towns well trained fire service !! What a pity that we the people of Silsden,seem according to the statement in the local press, get scant support for ward Cllr. Mallinson ?? |
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| grandad |
How long do they (Mallinson included) THINK! it will take two fire engines to get to a fire in Silsden, if two are already busy dealing with a RTC on the trunk road between Keighley and Silsden which would; has we have seen many times result in the trunk road being closed for up to four hours and all the traffic being diverted along the old road through Steeton top? In the Keighley news article Mallinson is quoted has saying he doesn’t THINK Silsden’s engine is used much! You can’t make decisions on what you THINK, you must search for, and uncover the FACTS, only then can the correct course of action be determined. Unless of course you have already decided to do whatever you can to be vindictive towards a community you see has having no supported your candidate. |
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| paperclip |
Satisfying though it might be to use this as another Silsden hates Mallinson but hearts Naylor fest, that won't help safeguard essential fire and rescue services in and around Keighley and specifically in its rural communities. Nor will keeping our arguments too tightly Silsden specific. There is campaign strength in numbers and people in Riddlesdon, Howarth etc etc are just as worried as we are, if not more so. If their service gets saved so will ours. It's part of the same system. TONIGHT - TUES 27 NOVEMBER at 7.30 there is a FBU public meeting in the Council Chamber at Keighley Town Hall. Notes will be taken and sent to the Fire and Rescue Authority, so people should go and have their say if they want their opinions heard. Last chance saloon. Consultation ends on Friday. |
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| countryman |
Paperclip I think it's a good idea to lobby the union. I only know of the public positions of the Town Council and two district councillors which are relevant if you want an effective lobby. However, according to the Fire Authority Website Labour Councillors control it so shouldn't we be lobbying them? |
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| grandad |
paperclip, my pont is,if our local ward councillors are NOT fighting our corner then what use are they? lets get rid of them and find somebody who will work for us against whoever is trying to hurt us. |
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| paperclip |
this post has been edited 3 time(s) countryman and grandad. There are 13 Labour members on the West Yorkshire Fire Authority I've just spent most of the morning identifying them and their contact details so I could tell them how people in our constituency (which includes Silsden and Steeton of course) feel about cuts in emergency services. Just because they are Labour based doesn't mean it's their fault that front line funding has been brutally cut -- or that as individuals (just like you) they don't care about about other people's safety and services. Talking across party divides could be so much more influential for communities than this comfortable old blame game. If you are happy to rest assured that Silsden TC and Cllr naylor's opposition to cutting fire and emergency cover will hack it - so be it You'll have to forgive me for thinking it might be not quite enough. Go to tonights meeting! |
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| Peter |
More information - facts and figures www.westyorksfire.gov.uk/public-consultation |
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| countryman |
Paperclip of course the Town Council and Cllr Naylor will not be able to solve this on their own but at least they are trying both this year and last year when Silsden lost it engine. I don't recall much support for them from the main parties last year. The Conservatives appear to be happy with the cuts as Cllr Brown says www.keighleynews.co.uk/news/news_keighley/9993971.Haworth_residents_express_fears_on_fire_cuts/ I'm glad you have been lobbying the controlling Labour group on the Fire Authority. Whilst the government may have forced the cuts onto the Fire it's is upto them how they make the cuts.They can choose to protect outlying areas such as ours if they want to. After all these are Councillors who are well paid to sit on the Fire Authority they should be representing all of us. I hope the unions get a good turn out tonight and help fight our corner but it is the councillors who make the final decision according to the website. |
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| countryman |
this post has been edited 1 time(s) Thanks for the link Peter, I hadn't realised the elected members cost us an additional £126,796 in addition to what they get from their own councils. Quite an eye opener. www.westyorksfire.gov.uk/members-allowances |
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| paperclip |
this post has been edited 1 time(s) countryman. We need to get real here. You didn't suppose people strive become councillors in all the political parties out of selfless, unpaid dedication to local issues did you? Even if they start out that way, big commitee responsibilities offer high status in the organisation plus extra income. People want that.... just like in real life. What did you think councillors fall out about? The placement of Christmas lights? Ways to curb dog poo? Successful lobbying and influence for the rest of us depends on our capacity to recognise the financial issues but not get distracted by them. It's not about what they get paid for spending hours and hours in tedious meetings far from home. It's about what they can do to make our lives safer/better while they are there. |
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| grandad |
Paperclip,I can see what you are getting at, But and this is a big but, there are; and always have been, too many people who get themselves elected as ward councillors take the not inconsiderate income the job provides but do absolutely nothing for the people and areas they are supposed to be working for! The Parish and Town councillors do the work for no monitory gain many not even claiming the expenses they are entitled to, most of them also sit through boring meetings, but a heck of a lot of them get off their backsides and out into the streets and do the work, which needs doing but they can’t get Bradford or most of the other big councils to do. |
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| aflac99 |
agreed grandad watch this space for projects happening in the near future  |
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| Peter |
Please keep to the subject |
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| paperclip |
this post has been edited 1 time(s) Anyone worried about future fire and emergency cover in Silsden and Craven Ward generally (we are spot on the subject target here Peter sir) may have seen that I spent a long morning yesterday emailing all Labour Councillors on the West Yorkshire Fire Authority about safety concerns in the Keighley/Ikley Constituency and specifically in it's rural areas. I had a prompt response from the Authority's chair's office He is a councillor in Kirklees... Don't start huffing and yelling,please..... This is the system we've got. We can use it or lose it. Your choice. Revolution can come later. Anyway he obviously had asked his Chief Fire Officer to respond to me which he did today. Full marks to them for efficiency -- but I'm not so optimistic about the propects of any policy shift/flexibility. What might be more interesting for you on Silsden.net is that the Chief Fire Officer's response I received indicated that serious consideration is being given to the safety fears in the Worth Valley communities. Parish Councils there submitted written responses about service cuts and also organised petitions and public meetings. I don't think that's happened in our ward? There's still just time for letters/emails. Consultation ends at close of play on Friday |
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| pednjulie |
they do away with silsden police station now cut backs on fire service do ppl want there houses to burn down cause i wudnt want mine to burn down and i dont fink keighley fire service cud be here in 10 mins a house will be up n goin in ten 15mins my great great grandad was captain lonsdale smith of keighley fire service he served 40 year at keighley fire service.show he wud tel u keighley fire service kan not be here in ten mins of a call,ur houses will of gone who ever is supporting this is obviasly about as much use as a choclate tea pot |
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| grandad |
What might be more interesting for you on Silsden.net is that the Chief Fire Officer's response I received indicated that serious consideration is being given to the safety fears in the Worth Valley communities. Parish Councils there submitted written responses about service cuts and also organised petitions and public meetings. I don't think that's happened in our ward? There's still just time for letters/emails. Consultation ends at close of play on Friday. WHY hasn’t it happened in this ward? We have three ward councillors who are ALL supposed to be fighting FOR US. |
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| aflac99 |
2 fireman came to the town council meeting in September if i remember rightly to talk through the cuts and what was proposed |
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| countryman |
I believe two senior officers also came to Silsden last year when we lost our engine. The Town council argued against the loss. I don't remember another council or councillor's arguing on our behalf. |
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| Replies in this thread : 21 |
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events sale / wanted general have your say looking for.. skippy greengrass |
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DON'T FORGET THE SUBJECT IS >>>>>>>> Forums Home > Have Your Say !!!! > More fire service cuts |
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