CFO Ben Ansell & Dorset Councillors remove flood rescue equipment from our firefighters

Despite the best efforts of some of the Wiltshire Councillors on the Dorset controlled fire authority, they were out numbered by Swindon & Dorset votes who decided to put our local fire fighters at risk and make members of the public trapped in swift water floods wait 60 minutes for help to arrive from out of Wiltshire. 

This disgraceful decision now requires focus on the CFO who wanted the cuts, the Dorset FBU reps who agreed to the cuts, the Lib Dem Cllr from Wiltshire who voted for the cuts along with every Dorset Cllr who voted to put Wiltshire residents and Wiltshire firefighters at risk. Despite being told the risks, Chair of the Fire Authority Rebecca Knox failed to challenge the flawed report prepared by CFO Ansell and his long-standing and newly promoted friend that decimates the ability for Chippenham and Trowbridge firefighters to protect themselves and the public. 

Local MP Michelle Donelan was not able to persuade either Rebecca Knox or Ben Ansell to reconsider their dangerous proposals. Wiltshire Council officers are now looking at how the decision making process and recommendation can be called in for scrutiny by the parent authority. Answering questions about Dorset and Wiltshire Fire Authority, the Fire Minister called fire governance a complete mess, and has suggested residents would be better served if fire services were moved under the umbrella of police and crime commissioners. This would certainly be the case for residents in Wiltshire who subsidise the provision of the fire service in Swindon and Dorset. Wiltshire firefighters deserve better. Wiltshire residents deserve better. Please support Pam Hyde’s attempts to have the decision overturned at https://www.change.org/p/dorset-and-wiltshire-fire-authority-rethink-the-decision-to-remove-flood-rescue-equipment-from-wiltshire?redirect=false

Becky x