Chief on loss of fire engine.CUTS at Billingham Fire Station won't affect the brigade's response to residential emergencies, a fire chief claims. As reported, the Fire Brigades Union The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) is the main union for firefighters in the United Kingdom. It was founded in 1918 in the London area as the Firemans Trade Union, but soon grew to cover the entire country. (FBU FBU Fire Brigades Union FBU Fast Binding Update FBU Franc Burundais (national currency) FBU Federal Benefits Unit (Social Security, Medicare) FBU Faciliteiten Bedrijf Utrecht ) has hit out at a proposed move to reduce Billingham to a one-pump station, with the loss of 22 frontline front·line also front line n. 1. A front or boundary, especially one between military, political, or ideological positions. 2. Basketball See frontcourt. 3. Football The linemen of a team. fire-fighting posts. The station is at the heart of Teesside's petrochemical petrochemical, any one of a large group of chemicals derived from a component of petroleum or natural gas. The cracking processes for manufacturing gasoline produce vast quantities of gaseous hydrocarbons. industry. The union says cutting crews would have a knock-on effect knock-on effect Noun the indirect result of an action or decision Noun 1. knock-on effect - a secondary or incidental effect Britain, Great Britain, U.K. in surrounding areas which rely on them for back up. But Chief Fire Officer, Ian Hayton, pictured, insists the proposals won't affect the brigade's emergency response to residential or commercial fires. He said: "Billingham Fire Station is our only fire station that primarily covers industrial risks and by changing our approach to industry, we have identified that we no longer need two fire engines at this station. "Under the proposal, one of Billingham's two fire engines, which has been independently assessed as being one of the least used fire engines in the UK, will be removed in April 2010. The proposed change will not affect the brigade's emergency response standards. "I want to reassure everyone our current high standards of public safety will be maintained. Local residents will receive the same emergency response as they do now." The public is invited to comment on the proposals in a consultation process which ends on November 3. Mr Hayton said the new approach focuses on working with industrial site operators to enhance prevention and protection measures, planning and preparation processes. But Stockton North MP Frank Cook says he's "astounded a·stound tr.v. a·stound·ed, a·stound·ing, a·stounds To astonish and bewilder. See Synonyms at surprise. [From Middle English astoned, past participle of astonen, " and "angered" by the "baffling baf·fle tr.v. baf·fled, baf·fling, baf·fles 1. To frustrate or check (a person) as by confusing or perplexing; stymie. 2. To impede the force or movement of. n. 1. " proposals, especially after he and other Teesside MPs campaigned on behlaf of the fire service for a better funding deal. Of the proposals, he said: "On the face of it, I find it hard to imagine anything more difficult to justify. In Cleveland, we have always prided ourselves on having one of the best fire and rescue services in the country - and that's because, as the UK's biggest petrochemical complex, we have needed it. "I will certainly be demanding some immediate answers and assurances from the brigade and the Fire Authority." |
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