STAFFING REDUCTIONS IN THE DEVON AND SOMERSET FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE

That this House opposes the recommendations of the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service to cut eight fully-trained hydraulic platform operators based at Torquay, Plymouth, Exeter and Barnstaple; fears that lives and property could be endangered as a consequence of the longer response times that will result in getting the appropriate equipment to an incident; notes the increasing trend in Devon and Somerset's urban areas to make best use of land space by building more floors thus increasing the number of potential situations where the hydraulic platforms may be required; and calls on the Service to reject these proposals when it considers the matter in October.