Assembly plea over fire changes

The assembly government took control of the fire service in Wales last month

A fire fighters' union is asking the Welsh Assembly Government to intervene over staffing changes at Pontardawe and Haverfordwest in west Wales.

The Mid and West Wales Fire Authority has approved a plan to end the 24-hour manning of both stations.

It says it will make better use of equipment and help target resources to fire safety and prevention.

The Fire Brigade's Union claims both communities will have to wait longer for emergency responses at night.

If this is modernisation then God help us Mike Smith

The union's executive council member for Wales, Mike Smith, has written to assembly minister, Edwina Hart, to ask her to overturn the decision.

The Welsh Assembly Government formally took control of the fire service in Wales from the Home Office last month.

Mr Smith said: "This decision flies in the face of what the consultation process produced, that is total opposition to the proposal.

"In essence this means that the communities of Haverfordwest and Pontardawe will have to wait longer for a fire engine at night between 1800GMT and 0800GMT.

Controversy

"If this is modernisation, then God help us."

Authority members approved the management plan after receiving over 100 responses during a consultation process.

Authority chairman Gareth Sullivan said because of the controversy over the crew pattern at Haverfordwest the changes would be implemented in two phases.

Similar changes where a retained crew would be needed to cover Pontardawe at night would also be phased in.

He said the changes approved as part of the management plan "would reduce the number of deaths and injuries and improve levels of public safety.

"I am also delighted that we will be able to do this whilst maintaining a policy of no compulsory redundancies."