Local campaigners celebrate Fire Engine campaign success

Campaigners who fought to save the 2nd Fire Engine at Hinckley Fire Station are celebrating
a campaign success.

Leicestershire Fire Authority had proposed a series of cuts to local Fire Services, this
included removing the 2nd Fire Engine from Hinckley.

The Fire Authority has now changed its mind and recommended that the 2nd Fire Engine in Hinckley be saved.

Reacting to the news that the second Fire Engine at Hinckley will not be axed, Lib Dem representative on the Fire Authority County Councillor Stuart Bray (Lib Dem, Burbage Castle) said: "Back in the Autumn I told Fire bosses that these plans were dangerous and unacceptable and I'm delighted that they have now come round to our way of thinking. I am grateful for the huge public response and to all those people who attended the public meetings. This tremendous strength of feeling has forced Fire Chiefs to perform this welcome u-turn.

"It's a shame they didn't ditch their plans sooner and we could have saved the public expense of a long consultation period, money which could have been spent on front-line services.

"I will now be looking carefully at the new proposals and encouraging the Fire Authority to look at ways of saving money from back office functions which can be spent on keeping local residents safe."

Hinckley Lib Dem County Councillor Michael Mullaney said "People power has worked. The leaders of the Fire Authority who wanted to remove our areas 2nd Fire Engine have had to change their mind. Thanks to everyone who signed the petitions to save the Fire Engine, and to all the people who came to speak at the public meetings and took part in the consultations.

"The Hinckley area has a large population and it needs the 2nd Fire Engine to cover it. Thankfully instead of just accepting this huge cut to our local Fire Services people campaigned to save them and here in Hinckley the campaign has
been a success. It's great news for the Hinckley area that our 2nd Engine has been kept."