Oxfordshire firefighters were out in force with placards and banners at County Hall this lunchtime to lobby councillors about new measures due to be implemented as part of the Fire Authority's Integrated Risk Management Action Plan 2010-11. This decision was taken at today's Cabinet meeting.
I went outside to talk to them to hear their views. Firefighters are concerned that residents of Abingdon and Didcot will have a reduced service under the new plans, and response times will be delayed, especially at weekends. The idea behind the plan is that there will be increased cover in some of Oxfordshire's rural communities, and some of us were shocked to hear that some areas, particularly in West Oxfordshire were not covered under the present system. More retained firefighters rather than full-time officers would be employed under the new scheme.
Despite the protest, and speakers at Cabinet, the vote to go through with the plan was unanimous with all Cabinet members approving the scheme.
I went outside to talk to them to hear their views. Firefighters are concerned that residents of Abingdon and Didcot will have a reduced service under the new plans, and response times will be delayed, especially at weekends. The idea behind the plan is that there will be increased cover in some of Oxfordshire's rural communities, and some of us were shocked to hear that some areas, particularly in West Oxfordshire were not covered under the present system. More retained firefighters rather than full-time officers would be employed under the new scheme.
Despite the protest, and speakers at Cabinet, the vote to go through with the plan was unanimous with all Cabinet members approving the scheme.
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