the gazette isle of wight
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36,000 copies - Friday February 20 2009
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Alarm bells ring over fire service shake-up
CONCERNS have been expressed that a radical shakeup of the fire service on the Island could lead to job losses and even station closures. Firefighters, both full-time and retained, are now anxiously waiting to hear how the proposed sweeping changes could affect them.
The IW Council’s cabinet will meet in April to discuss a paper containing several options to revamp the service, and have revealed that more than £8million will be made available in coming years for further modernisation. But The Gazette has been handed supposed secret information from two separate sources believed to be on one of the options that the cabinet will discuss. And it is already setting the alarm bells ringing at the emergency service. If implemented it could result in the Island losing two of its current fire depots, at Freshwater and Shanklin, while several existing fire engines could also go. One concerned source said: “If these proposals are pushed through then it could have a massive adverse effect on the service currently
By Jamie White
provided. “If there are closures it would mean firemen from other stations having to travel further to emergency calls, and losing vital minutes in getting to the scene of a fire or road traffic accident.” One insider has handed us what he claims is a seven-point plan that would result in the worst case scenario if implemented. It sets out the following information: • A £5million budget for a new HQ, venue unknown. • Ventnor retained fire station would lose one engine. • Cowes retained station would lose one engine. • Yarmouth retained station would be closed. • Sandown would lose retained staff and become day-manned as would Ryde retained station. • Shanklin retained station would close. • Newport station, which is wholetime and backed up by 22 retained firefighters, would have its retained numbers cut to 10. The council responded to our request to answer the claims with the following statement. It said:
File picture “The IW Fire and Rescue Service has made great improvements in recent years and has recently been assessed as being a service that continues to improve well.
“To that end, the council cabinet is recommending that more than £8million is made available over the coming years to further modernise the IW Fire and Rescue
Couple’s Dubai ‘holiday hell’ AN ISLAND couple have described how their dream holiday turned into a nightmare after their passports were stolen in the Middle East.
Pete and Jane Hayward, from Newchurch, set off for Australia for the 40th birthday celebrations of Jane’s brother Robert, who emigrated to Brisbane six years ago. But the trip turned into ‘holiday hell’ when they discovered both their passports had been snatched during a brief stop in Dubai to change planes. They became aware of the theft on
Exclusive by Peter White the next leg of their flight to Singapore, were forced to spend three nights as virtual prisoners in Singapore airport. Pete and Jane were eventually transported under armed guard to the British embassy in Singapore to pick up temporary passports. They finally arrived in Australia four days late, and then had a further delay coming home while they waited for replacement passports. See full story – Page 4
Service. The purpose of this process is to create a service that is more resilient and safer, offering Continued on page 2