Village Voice No 252 November 2013
Melbourne & District
FIRE STATION BID HOTTING UP
newton fallowell
raising the standard of estate agency
MELBOURNE ESTATE AGENTS Residential Sales and Lettings Tel: 01332 865696 Melbourne: 01332 865696
INSIDE STORIES
by FRANK HUGHES
Girls’ locks cut for charity – Page 3
THE campaign to save Melbourne Fire Station is hotting up. Already hundreds of signatures have been added to a petition. Supporters, including local children, have been handing out leaflets and consultation documents to ensure the public are fully aware of the threat. At the Fire Station, staff are understandably worried for the future of the local area. On the wall are tributes of years of community service. Pride of place is a letter from Margaret Thatcher praising the Melbourne crew for their bravery and courage at the 1989 Kegworth air disaster, and the roll of honour extends back to 1930, packed with Melbourne family names. “Losing all of this doesn’t bear thinking about,” said one officer. BBC East Midlands Today covered the story with reporter Simon Hare interviewing locals and now, Derby City Council have thrown their weight behind the campaign to resist the closures. A huge crowd of supporters packed into the Melbourne Assembly Rooms on November 4, eager to air their views. Many called for representatives of the Fire Service and Fire Authority to come and face the local residents to explain the plans, which were considered HEATED DEBATE ... Protesters gathered at the Assembly Rooms to hear about the proposals “absolutely ridiculous” by many. District councillor John Harrison, acknowledging the sense of to close Melbourne Fire Station. not just to property and potential life cruit and train staff. public concern at this emotive and senconsidered for closure and determined to Even in Melbourne this has been in- do all he can to keep it open. sitive issue, described the case to close loss, but also to cultural heritage. The crew in Melbourne can reach creasingly difficult over the years, with Melbourne as “flawed” and “unacceptCllr Harrison said he was “totally opless industry in the area, but in Hilton posed to the proposed closure unless and able”.There was a call to form a repre- Calke in six minutes, yet the consultasentative group to co-ordinate a tion paper inexplicably claims there there is no evident source of “volunteer” until I can be persuaded that alternative would be no worsening of response time. fire officers, and the prospect of dismiss- cover would provide the level of protecresponse. Melbourne is on the flight path to ing so many trained staff seems senseTop of the concerns is the likely retion Melbourne residents deserve”. East Midlands Airport; over the years less. sponse time to a fire or traffic incident. Both County Councillor Linda Chilton Melbourne firefighters have attended Melbourne fire station costs approxiWith a locally retained crew the current and Parish Council chair Jane Carroll calls both on site at the airport and incimately £80k per year to operate; by contarget of 10 minutes is easily achievable. urged everyone to engage with the contrast the expenses bill for the 16 Alternative provision would mean an dents along the flight path. sultation and let their views be known. The local racetrack hosts events representatives on the Fire and Rescue initial response around 20 minutes. A further public meeting with reprethroughout the year, with high volumes Authority was in excess of £92K last Heritage properties in the area, insentatives from the Fire Authority will year. cluding Melbourne Hall, the medieval of traffic on routes through Melbourne Local representatives were early to be held on Thursday, November 28, at church, Staunton Harold and Calke are increasing the risk of accidents on local roads. comment on the proposals. District coun- the fire station at the request of the Fire at heightened risk. Another point seemingly overlooked cillor Jim Hewlett described himself as Authority. An outbreak of fire in any of these It will start at 7.30pm. buildings would cause catastrophic loss, by the consultation is the ability to re- “horrified to learn the station was being
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Out on the litter trail – Page 11
Fun at the Wakes – Pages 14,15
Cricket awards night – Page 26
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