Demonstration over fire job cuts

The firefighters were lobbying Tayside Fire Board members

Firefighters have been protesting in Dundee over planned job cuts which they claim will put lives at risk.

A total of 16 front-line posts will be lost at the Blackness and Balmossie stations.

About 80 personnel turned out to lobby members of the Tayside fire board, which backed the proposal.

Tayside Fire and Rescue said there would not be any added danger to the public as a result of the reduced staff numbers.

It also said there would not be any compulsory redundancies.

Chief Fire Officer Stephen Hunter has said that efficiencies must be made if the service wants to continue funding the pay rises awarded during 2003's industrial dispute.

'Categoric assurance'

He believes the best way of making savings is by cutting jobs and embracing new technology, such as the aerial rescue pump which is being introduced.

It is claimed that the pump can perform the functions currently carried out by two vehicles.

Mr Hunter told the BBC Scotland News website: "I have given a categoric assurance to the communities of Tayside that these changes will have no detrimental effect on the high quality of services they receive from Tayside Fire and Rescue.

"These proposals have not just been thought about overnight, they've been many years under consideration.

"We have considered a multitude of options and the majority of them actually have a detrimental effect on the safety of our communities, and a detrimental effect on the safety of firefighters."

He added that the proposal to cut jobs and introduce new equipment and working practices was the only option which would not have a negative impact on services.

However, firefighters at the demonstration were not convinced.

Charlie Kidd from the Kingsway East station said: "Part of the job cuts are down to the arrival of a new appliance which is going to be stationed at Blackness Road.

Firefighters believe their safety will be put at risk

"At the moment, there are question marks over the ability of this appliance to access areas within its station ground.

"That means if that can't go to fires because of the limited access, then it's going to take longer for a second appliance to come along."

Kingsway East colleague Paul McCallum urged the government to provide additional funding.

"The amount of extra responsibilities we've taken on, it's been a very busy couple of years for the fire and rescue service," he said.

"And instead of getting more money to make us even more proficient in these extra duties we've taken on, we're now facing cuts."

Brian Marshall, from the MacAlpine Road station, said: "We put our lives at risk and we don't want our health and safety breached at all.

"In the next wee while something will happen and we don't want to come around and say 'we told you so'."