Fire Service Cuts - Deadline for Comments is this Friday

Time is running out for submitting comments on Surrey's "Public Service Plan" which proposes severe and controversial cuts to fire safety cover in the county.

For more detail see the item "Surrey's Fire Service Plan - Public Safety or Funding Cuts?" posted on 28 December 2010.

In brief, although the plan proposes more public education about smoke detectors and increasing most fire engine crews from four to five fire-fighters, it also proposes accepting much longer response times, especially at night, related to reductions in the number of fire engines available at night.

This would include reducing the number of fire engines at Epsom available at night from two to one.

Concerns about the proposals centre around the public's concern that rapid response is more important at night.

Details of the proposals can be found here on SCC website and your comments can be submitted on a short online questionnaire to be found here.

The closing date for comments is Friday 4th March 2011.