Village Voice No 251 October 2013
Melbourne & District
FIRE STATION TO FACE THE AXE? RESIDENTS are getting hot under the collar about the news that Melbourne Fire Station has been shortlisted for closure. The shock announcement came after a meeting of the Derbyshire Fire Authority when a reduction from 31 to 20 fire stations and 78 fewer fire-fighter numbers were proposed. The reason offered was a possible 40% budget reduction. People on social media reacted immediately to the news. “It's madness," said one, "Don’t they realise we are separated from Derby by the causeway?” “This has got to be fought,” said another. As well as the plan to close the recently refurbished Ascot Drive station there is a move to reduce provision at Swadlincote. Although Melbourne is not a fully manned station and has retained duty staff, it is nonetheless called out on a regular basis to attend emergencies. In the last two months 10 responses to emergencies were reported. Recent incidents have included a fire on Castle Street, a car fire on Selina Street, a grass fire on Jawbone Lane – all in Melbourne – a house fire in Linton and a car fire on the A50. The radical plan includes a new station at Hilton, which is assumed will cover South Derbyshire. Sale of the Melbourne station is expected to realise £125k to £250K to help fund
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INSIDE STORIES
Marie’s birthday burn-up – Page 3
by FRANK HUGHES the new station. Chief Fire Officer Sean Frayne, announcing the proposals, said he was "committed to ensuring that the service could respond to the many challenges both now and in the future" and said it was about delivering less with less. Marc Redford, chair of the local Fire Brigade Union, was measured in his reaction, despite having serious concerns about the closures and job losses. He said: “There is a period of consultation, and we are urging all of the public to engage with that to influence any decisions made.” The moves would doubtless increase the critical response time for the first appliance on scene for any incident in the area. Last year Derbyshire service failed to meet its performance standard to have an engine on site within 10 minutes in 80% of callouts. Only 70.6% was achieved. Without the presence of a station in the area residents will rightly be concerned that this can only worsen and threaten lives in the process. A spokesperson for DFRS advised that the changes were now going out to consultation and as a long term plan – extending to 2022; there were no overnight changes planned. The consultation document indicates, however, that some of the changes could be introduced in 2014/15. The consultation document is on the Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service (DFRS) website.
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Dream comes true – Page 10
First day at school – Pages 18,19
● Afternoon Tea at the Loake’s - Cassandra Constable’s home-made tasty morsels went down well with Pat Key (left) and Vanessa Pollard (right) at the afternoon tea she hosted at her Chantry Cottage home in Church Street. More pictures and a full Festival report are on Pages 12 and 13.
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Rugby club award – Page 22
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