The campaign to protect Brentwood Fire Station, launched by local Conservative councillors, received massive backing with over 1700 people signing up with their support. Essex Fire Authority reacted furiously to the publicity generated by their plans, as they attempted to sneak the proposals through without any public comment.
Meanwhile, Conservative councillors stood up against those within their own party at county hall, to defend the interests of Brentwood residents. Surprisingly, opposition councillors on Brentwood Council, fell silent about the cuts instead of defending our fire station.
Although the Fire Authority got their way and cut one full time crew and replaced it with a retained crew, the fight continues to prevent any further cuts. We are worried that the Fire Authority are hiding their real plans to reduce the station to just one full-time crew. They admit that they think Brentwood needs only one crew, even though this is against their own procedures for dealing with motorway incidents and high-rise flat fires. They are already risking life and property by relying on crews from Ingatestone and Ongar, to fill the gap if they can’t get a second crew in the town. It puts unacceptable pressure on the retained crew in Ingatestone who already balance their jobs with their fire duties.
Local campaigner, James Tumbridge said "I am determined to make sure that the Essex Fire Authority come clean on their real plans for Brentwood"