Dundee SNP

Dundee East MP Stewart Hosie today said he was very satisfied with the decision of Tayside Fire & Rescue Board to reject the proposal to downgrade night time fire cover at Balmossie. The MP was reacting to news that the proposal was defeated by 10 votes to 8 this morning.

The MP has campaigned alongside local people and local representatives against the proposal by the Fire Master.

Stewart said: “I’m delighted that common sense and community pressure has won the day. It is a decision which I believe will allay the fears and anxieties of the communities which I represent.

“I am sure that the strength of feeling of the communities of Broughty Ferry, Monifieth, Carnoustie and the Sidlaw villages has played a big part in this decision.

“I only hope that this second Fire Board decision against the Balmossie proposal will end any prospect of it being brought back at any time in the near future.”

Stewart Hosie and Ken Guild collecting signatures in Brook Street.

Dundee East MP Stewart Hosie has called on the public to join the march and rally through central Broughty Ferry on Saturday to show their support for the retention of full-time night cover at Balmossie Fire Station.

The MP will speak at the rally in St Aidan’s Hall at the conclusion of the march.

Stewart Hosie and Ferry ward SNP Councillor Ken Guild have campaigned against the downgrading of night-time cover at the fire station and helped to collect signatures during the period of the public consultation.

The Dundee East MP said: “We have supported the campaign for retention of fulltime night cover at Balmossie on a number of grounds including public safety.

“It was clear from when this proposal was first raised nearly a year ago by the Fire Master that a great many of my constituents had serious concerns.

“These were expressed during the first consultation and we were surprised when the proposal was resurrected so soon after this display of public opposition.

“A proposal like this, which was rejected less than a year ago, which will save no money and which attracted almost no public support is unlikely to succeed this time round with an even greater volume of public opposition.

“But it vital that people turn out to show that the community are united against the proposal. The next meeting of the Fire Board is on Monday 29^th March and a strong showing by the public will help to convince the members of the Board that this proposal should be shelved.”

Cllr Guild added, “Almost half the incidents attended by crews from Balmossie are between 6pm in the evening and 8am the following morning. These are  precisely the times when the current full-time night cover would be downgraded. This is why local people are so anxious about the proposals.”

Stewart Hosie MP and Shona Robison MSP continue to voice their concerns over the Tayside Fire Board’s proposals to downgrade nighttime fire cover at Balmossie Fire Station. While responding to a press feature on the subject, both Stewart and Shona gave their reasons:

Stewart Hosie said:“Many of my constituents in particular from Broughty Ferry, Monifieth and the Sidlaw villages, were, and are, concerned at the proposals to downgrade night-time firecover at Balmossie.

“I received more correspondence about this issue when it raised it’s head last year than on any other single local issue since I was elected. The concerns raised with me formed the basis of my response to the  Firemaster as part of the initial consultation. I attended and spoke at the FBU Rally and  had various meetings with the Firemaster and FBU officials.  

“My position has not changed. I believe that the Firemaster has failed to allay the very real concerns of local people that his plans for the service offer the best possible fire protection – and  I am dismayed that a near identical proposal should be brought back to the Fire Board so soon after it was last rejected.

“Local people gave me a long list of specific concerns which remain unanswered. These include concerns  that most fire deaths occur during the night, precisely the time period when fire-cover is to be downgraded; there are a large number of nursing homes in the area, Ashludie Hospital and many elderly people living in the area; that there will be longer response times in the areas presently served by Balmossie, with constituents in Monifieth believing that there would be an additional four minutes for an appliance from Kingsway East to get to them. Some are concerned that downgrading night-time firecover at Balmossie would be a first step to closing the station altogether. Others constituents point out that the area’s population is expanding, with new housing estates to the north and east and that it makes little sense to downgrade a station covering an expanding residential population.

“Therefore, as the local MP, I cannot support proposals which so many of my constituents remain deeply anxious about.

“Of course, no service can remain static for ever. And I am open to any imaginative proposals  which would improve the fire protection of my constituents . But in the absence of any firm alternatives,  I remain unconvinced about the benefits of downgrading the service in  from Balmossie.”

In her comments on the situation, Shona Robison said: “It would be very foolish for any political party to try and make the Balmossie Fire station issue into a party political football.

“The fact is that members of all parties have voted in differing ways over this controversial proposal since its inception. Indeed it would be wrong for Fire Board members to vote along party political or indeed geographical lines. The safety of the public is too important for political point scoring. Rather the judgement is whether the Fire Master has made the case for change along the lines proposed.

“My own position is already in the public domain in both media comment and my submission to the first consultation back in March last year. The Fire master has not persuaded me that the proposals for Balmossie address two key concerns. Firstly that there is no diminution of safety for the public and secondly that any changes must be focussed on reducing the deaths and injury from fire which occur disproportionately in the poorest communities in Dundee.

“The statistics speak for themselves and yet the Balmossie proposals do little to address this fact. Therefore, I cannot support the proposals (to downgrade full-time night cover)  as they stand and I would urge both the Fire Master, the Fire Board and the FBU to seriously investigate alternative options which can command broad support and deliver enhanced safety for the people of this city.”

Stewart at Balmossie Fire Station

Dundee East MP Stewart Hosie has submitted a comprehensive list of local concerns over the proposed downgrading of night-time fire cover at Balmossie Fires station to the Tayside Firemaster.

The proposed changes are included in the ‘Towards A Safer Tayside: Service Plans for 2009 / 2010’ which are open to public consultation until 27 February.

The MP, who has had a number of meetings with the Firemaster and the Fire Brigades Union since the proposed changes were first raised, has summarised the contents of the many letters he had received and has passed them to the consultation.

Stewart Hosie said: “I have received a large number of representations from constituents on the issue and have asked the Firemaster to consider all the points raised in these letters.

“As I have said at the public rally in Broughty Ferry and in my Parliamentary Reports which are circulated to every door in the constituency – which includes Monifieth and Carnoustie – it is vital that the public take the opportunity to participate in the public consultation.

“My primary concern is that the fears of local people must be fully addressed, if any changes are to be made. There are a great many concerns which local people have and I look forward to hearing in due course the Firemaster’s response to all of the issues raised.

The many aspects of the issue raised include:
· Most fire deaths occur during the night precisely the period when fire-cover is to be downgraded
· There will be longer response times in the areas presently served by Balmossie as fire engines would be travelling from Kingsway. Constituents in Monifieth claimed Kingsway is 3 miles further away from them than Balmossie and might mean up to an additional 4 minutes response time.
· Downgrading night-time cover is a ‘backward step’ and does not represent best value
· The proposals would be a first step towards closing Balmossie altogether
· Area served by Balmossie fire station is rapidly expanding and continues to develop in terms of new housing estates and rapidly increasing population
· Longer response times would adversely affect disabled people, blue badge holders and those with mobility problems, therefore meaning the safety of such individuals would be compromised.
· Many nursing homes are situated in the area. Constituents referred to the rapid intervention of fire engines in 2005 which saved lives at Westbay Nursing Home in Broughty Ferry.
· Large elderly population in the area, also Ashludie Hospital – more vulnerable in fire incidents.
· “we all pay high rates in this area, why should we get less cover”
· Fire is unpredictable and any service driven by statistics puts lives at greater risk
· The downgrading of night-time cover is to allow fire officers to do more community safety work but “there is absolutely no evidence that these activities reduce the number of fires”
· Retained fire crews have other jobs and so their attendance is “not always guaranteed”
· Residents in High Street Monifieth believed that a fire panel in a stairwell at a block of flats was regularly visited by fire engines from Balmossie and believed that this would be less likely if the changes occur
· Residents will be trapped in their homes for longer due to longer response times and face more risk of being overcome by smoke.

Stewart at Balmossie Fire Station

Dundee East MP Stewart Hosie has met the Tayside Firemaster and his Deputy to discuss the proposals regarding the service provided by Balmossie fire station.

Stewart Hosie said: “I had received a number of representations from both firefighters and local people. It was clear to me there was very deep anxiety concerning people in the area covered by Balmossie.

“At our meeting, I impressed upon the Firemaster the deep anxiety felt, particularly on the proposal to have nightwatch cover provided only by retained men.

“The Firemaster is aware of the concern in Broughty Ferry and Monifieth and surrounding areas and I’m delighted he is now engaging in an extended consultation with these local communities.

“I am therefore urging anyone in the area covered by the Balmossie station who is anxious about the proposals to write to the Firemaster explaining their anxieties directly to him.”