" COUNCILLORS and community leaders have united in their concern that Pontefract and Knottingley could be left with just one fully-staffed fire engine. Fire cover in the Five Towns area has been the subject of a shake-up plan since 2006 which moved to "combine Pontefract and Knotingley stations to a new site" – in Stumpcross, Pontefract – midway between the two. As the Express reported last week, a fifth pump for the Five Towns which was originally planned for Pontefract was actually to move to Normanton – news which provoked fury among community leaders. But this week, fire chiefs have acknowleded the original plan, which carried an amendment – put forward by fire authority chairman at the time, Pontefract Councillor Phillip Booth in 2006 – that Pontefract be the location of the fifth pump. Dep chief fire officer Steve Beckley said as it currently stands, Pontefract WILL have a second engine, but stressed the matter will be under constant review until the new station is up and running in 18 months' time. He said: "The fire authority made a decision in December to locate a reserve pump at Normanton and there had (already] been a decision about a reserve at Pontefract, so you could argue there's a potential for two reserve pumps. But it's because we are looking at the overall situation. Normanton may end up with one, Pontefract may end up with one, both may not be with any. But the decision stands (that one is in Pontefract] until we make a decision overall." But councillors and community leaders remain concerned that this second pump – a strategic reserve pump to be used in busy, or "spate", conditions – will only be staffed by on-call firefighters, after mixed information from fire chiefs. Dep fire chief Steve Beckley told the Express this week that staffing options of the second pump are still under review but Pontefract Coun Phillip Booth, now deputy chairman of the fire authoirty, said he believed it had never been anything other than "off-duty personnel". Coun Booth said: "For me, first and foremost comes Pontefract and Pontefract is where, as far as I'm concerned, a second pump is going to be. It wil be there for a period of 12 to 24 months to see what the situation is, to see whether it's required on a more permanent basis. "I think people took on board the fact that there was a second pump and then assumed that a crew would be coming along with it – that there would be a crew there, twiddling their thumbs waiting for the pump to be used. That is not the case. It will be staffed by off-duty personnel should it be required. That's the way it's always been." Councillors in Pontefract and Knottingley say they are hugely concerned if there is only one fully-staffed pump to cover the two towns. Knottingley Councillor Graham Stokes said: "If the pump is out, cover would have to come from Featherstone or Castleford. It's seems inadequate. I'd be concerned about the time it takes to get the second pump out to wherever. They promised that times would be better but if they haven't got the staff to man that pump then that's not going to be the case." Knottinglye Councillor Glenn Burton said: "What we need is the maximum resources we can get. It's no good having an appliance that we can't use. The arguments for having two engines in the first place still stands – we've got lots of industry and the motorway network as well as the houses, and bear in mind the weather we've been having as well. "What if we had two simultaneous incidents?" Pontefract Councillor Pat Garbutt said: "If the staffing is on an as and when needed, then what are the time scales if one pump is out and there's another fire? It concerns me as a local member. We want the best for the people out there." Castelford Councillor, and member of the fire authority, Tony Wallis said: "I have to admit I would be concerned if there's not the staff there to run it. I can see on the one hand, what's the point of having staff there who might not going to be used. But on the other hand we are talking about people's lives. "I'm concerned about the whole thing, to tell you the truth. There seems to be a lack of adequate communication." Bill O'Brien, secretary of Pontefract Groups Together, said: "What they told us during the six-week consultation – and I went to the meetings in Castleford, Pontefract, Knottingley and Featherstone – was that there would be two machines at Pontefract. The staffing of one was assured and the second one was to be looked at and that we would be informed about it. "The issue we have now is that they say they are not going to staff it – and to me that is totally wrong." Pontefract Councillor Clive Tennant added: "I believe we need two pumps to staff because it's such a big area. "I'm really angry about ut. I would be appalled if there would only be one pump. I remember my concern at the time was if there was a fire or road accident in Knottingley and that pump was there, what if there was a fire at Horsefair flats?" Pontefract and Caslteford MP MP Yvette Cooper said: "It's essential that the Five Towns have proper cover. The fre authority gave people assurances this would be the case. They need to provide an explanation if plans are changing." Dep fire chief Steve Beckley stressed a final decision has not been made: "It was never ever determined that it would be whole-time fire cover. We have a range of optiosn for using out existing staff as well as potentially retained staff. That's part of the overall strategic reserve review, which is ongoing."

2010-01-25

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