Anger at plans to bring Fire Service cuts back onto agenda

11.07.00am GMT Tue 2nd Feb 2010

Michael Mullaney, local pensioners groups and Firefighters have fought plans to cut Hinckley's Fire Service

Local Liberal Democrat campaigners have responded with fury at news that Leicestershire Fire Authority's plans to cut local fire services, will be back on the agenda at a meeting next week.

At a meeting in December, the Fire Authority decided to defer taking a decision on cuts and to instead send the plans back for further scrutiny. At the time it was believed that this would mean a six month deferral of any decision. The planned cuts included reducing the numbers of Fire Fighters based at Hinckley by eight

Now however the Fire Authority are planning to make a decision on the cuts at a meeting on Wednesday 10th February.

Michael Mullaney Liberal Democrat parliamentary spokesman for Bosworth who helped organise a 5,000 name petition against the cuts to Hinckley's Fire Services said "There are lots of serious objections to cutting the number of Firefighters in Hinckley.

" It is a growing area the government imposing thousands of new houses in and around Hinckley. The local Fire service has already suffered cuts a few years ago when the second fire engine was taken away from Hinckley.

"I hope Leicestershire Fire Authority will change it's mind and drop these damaging plans."