£10m cuts to West Midlands and Staffordshire Fire Services will 'put lives at risk'
More than £10million in savings for the fire services in Staffordshire and West Midlands will put public safety at risk, a new union report is warning.
Research by the Fire Brigades Union showed fire authorities across England will see their funding slashed by 20 per cent, or £137 million, by 2019/20.
In the West Midlands, £9.6 million of cuts will have to be made, while in Stafford £1.43 million will have to be saved in the next financial year, according to the report.
The union has already warned that thousands of firefighters' jobs have been cut in recent years, along with station closures.
Matt Wrack, general secretary of the FBU, said: "With implemented and planned cuts to the fire and rescue service now looking likely to be around 50 per cent from 2010 to 2020, the Government simply cannot keep denying that public safety is being put at risk.
"With 7,000 fewer frontline firefighters, fewer fire engines, station closures and other losses of equipment, such as that used to deal with terrorist attacks, and response times increasing significantly, professional firefighters are in no doubt that lives and property are being put at risk.
"We need the Government to put its hands up, admit it was wrong, and stop implementing more and more cuts.
"These never-ending cost saving measures won't keep the public safe. It really is looking as if this Government is content to put its austerity agenda before public safety, and it's time the public made it clear that it won't stand for this growing threat to their safety. Enough is enough."
Minister for Policing, Fire, Criminal Justice and Victims, Mike Penning, said: "Fire and Rescue Authorities (FRAs) have delivered significant savings over the past five years.
"During the same period, fire deaths have fallen by 22 per cent and fire injuries have fallen by a quarter.
"Over the next five years, FRAs will see an overall reduction of 2 per cent to their core spending power - but there is no question they will still have the resources to do their important work.
"There are more efficiencies to be made through smarter working, reducing the cost of back office functions and using services' buying power to get the best deals from suppliers. Further emergency service collaboration will also deliver further savings and benefits for the public.
"Public safety is a Government priority and the Fire and Rescue Service needs to adapt to ensure it is working in the most efficient way."
