Councillors Comments
The comments from Windsor local Councillors supporting the cause to keep the Windsor Fire Station open 24 hours and crewed by full time professional fire fighters.
Councillor Kathy Newbound
A fire and rescue service based in Windsor is so important for the protection of the residents and many visitors to the town. 24 hour cover should be maintained.
Councillor Jesse Grey (Datchet Ward)
It goes without saying that we must pursue keeping our fire
station!
Councillor Lynda Yong
I would like to add my support, the issues are very serious and real,
it should not be about saving money, the fire service is paid for by the
residents out of our taxes, and we the residents want the security of a
full time Fire service in Windsor, day and most importantly , at night.
I add my full support to this campaign.
Councillor John Stretton RBWM
I fully support the campaign to oppose the proposed restricted opening
hours for Windsor Fire Station. This idea is a retrogade step and would
not serve the Community.
Councillor John Story
I support the campaign to prevent Windsor from having
a part-time fire station. Windsor is a heavily populated town and one of
the most popular tourist destinations in the world. Its fire cover ought
to be second to none.
Councillor Catherine Bursnall (Castle
Without Windsor)
As the local ward Councillor for Central Windsor and someone who campaigned
(and was elected) on a pledge to support the Windsor Fire Station, I would
like to publicly state that I will continue to back the campaign with all
my heart. My home in Grove Road was flooded back in July 07 and had there
not been great support from the team in Windsor - the result would have
been significantly worse. I hope the review will reveal the failings of
the last Berkshire Fire Authority vote, and as a Windsor Conservative,
we are doing all we can to stop what would be an awful result for Windsor
residents.
Councillor Norma Herdson, ( Boyn Hill Ward, Maidenhead)
I totally support the campaign to save Windsor Fire Station as a fully-functioning
24-hour service.
Councillor Tom Bursnall (Clewer East Ward)
I am saddened to see that the BFA voted against keeping full time fire cover
for Windsor. As someone who recently had to use the fire brigade when
our house flooded, I believe it is vital to have a speedy local response.
When we called the brigade, all of the Slough and Windsor units were out
on calls, help eventually arrived by Bracknell's team over 35 minutes later.
They did a fantastic job. However, I fear that, had the situation been
more serious, and a loss of the Windsor team in the evening/night, I fear
lives will be lost. I will continue to fight this decision. 6/8/07
Councillor David J Burbage Leader of the Council
Residents of Windsor can be assured that we are doing all we can to retain
the night cover at Windsor's fire station. Personally I have been meeting
with colleagues from across the County to make the case for the existing
service to be retained, and lobbying those representatives who happen to
sit on the Fire Authority to support the current 24 hour service.
Councillor Phillip Bicknell
I believe that there must be a way of keeping Windsor Fire station 24/7
and solving the problem of the 13,000 Wokingham residents who must wait
too long for a Fire Engine. I wasn't voted into office in May to then
agree to down grade the fire service cover at night in Windsor and thereby
compromise the safety of the residents. Your support at the special meeting
in Reading on Wednesday evening would be most welcome. However before
you travel please check that the meeting is going ahead. If the river
Thames breaks its banks in Wraysbury during Tuesday/Weds, (which will
cause widespread flooding) then a lot of RBFS officers and members/councillors
will be helping the local residents.
Councillor David MacKay
Just an email of support to retaining a full time team at Windsor Station.
I feel this is just another government attack on public services.That
you provide to the public in Windsor.As a member of the P.C.S (Revenue & Customs
Group).I feel this attack on our public services is politically motivated
and must be resisted at all levels.Also if we lose here where will they
attack next.
Councillor John Fido
Having attended the very first presentation RBF&RS of the 5-year Risk
Management Integration Plan given to Windsor Councillors in York House
in June 2006 and, as a result, took a lead role in the hastily arranged
action to actually retain a Fire Station in Windsor, I now fully support
the campaign to retain 24-hour full-time cover in Windsor. The combined
actions of Windsorians taken last year convinced the elected members
of the Berkshire Fire Authority that Windsor's needs are unique. We must
now continue working together to ensure one the country's top tourist
towns with its Royal inhabited Castle, barracks, Legoland, myriad of
hotels/B&B's - coupled with the ever-present terrorist and flood
risks - keeps its essential Fire & Rescue Service covered 24/7. I
will be attending the meeting in Reading on 25 July and have applied
to address the meeting concerning the unsatisfactory consultation process
undertaken by Opinion Research Services.
Councillor Clive Baskerville (Belmont)
I support the retention of Windsor Fire Station to help maintain the level
of protection residents in the Windsor area get from the excellent fire
and rescue service based at St Mark's Road.
Councillor Emrys Richards
I wish to register my support for the retention of a fire station In Windsor.
These last few days with the issue of flooding and the requirement of our
fire services to meet the demands placed on them .must surely mean the
retention of a fire station In Windsor is paramount. Good luck with the
campaign and keep up the good work Councillor Emrys Richards Cox Green
Ward
Councillor Eileen Quick
As Lead Member for Windsor on RBWM Cabinet I wish to add to the comments
I verbally made at the meeting for our authority held on 8th May. I represent
Clewer East Ward on the edge of Windsor town centre, which like the remainder
of the area has been in filled by development, including several large
blocks of apartments, which are densely populated. I strongly support
the retention of 24hr cover at the Windsor Fire Station as provided at
present for the following reasons. The natural barrier of the river Thames
hinders access to Windsor by Slough based tenders. If an accident occurs
on the Relief Rd which crosses the river access is impossible. The proximity
of Windsor to Heathrow coupled with the threat of terrorism is a very
real danger. Should an aircraft be brought down on the town, which is
directly under the flight path, immediate and increased help would be
needed. Windsor Castle is a potential target and has no separate fire
cover. The value of our heritage is immeasurable and irreplaceable and
deserves special consideration. The service to Slough would be compromised
because of the previous reduction in engines and the greater area covered
at night. Many fires and emergencies happen at night time when the cover
would be greatly stretched or manned by volunteers. The increasing and
recurring risk of flooding in the Thames Valley requires an increase
or at least maintenance of the current level of service provided to the
whole of Berkshire. Other sources of funding should be explored before
a decision is made eg can land owned by the authority be sold or developed.
It should not be assumed that shuffling the man power is the only option.
The focus groups have been heavily steered towards one conclusion but
the wishes of the vast majority of the population have been given little
credence. While canvassing every home in my ward during the May election
the retention of our current level of fire service was the most important
issue and the most commonly raised topic on the doorstep. The service
is paid for by local people who must not be disenfranchised in a cavalier
manner. The consultation has been lengthy but skewed by the presentations
and focus groups.
Councillor Richard Kellaway
You have my full support in the campaign to maintain a full 24 hours service
at Windsor Fire Station. At a time when the population is increasing in
the area it is the wrong time to reduce a vital service. A reduction in
hours can lead to more loss of life and damage to property in the future.
It is essential to do all we can to keep the station open at all times.
Councillor Maureen Hunt
I have read with interest the facts and figures of 'call outs' for the
Windsor Fire Station and I am appalled that closure day or night could
even be envisaged. Windsor Fire Station have my full support.
Councillor David Hilton
I write in support of 24-hour operation at Windsor Fire Station. Whereas
I understand the need to improve services in the Wokingham area it is a
nonsense that this should be by delivering a worse service to the residents
of Windsor. I attended a meeting at Homer school a week or so ago. Strong
arguments were raised by the many people who attended which have not been,
and in my view cannot be, effectively addressed. The Fire and rescue Service
should scrap their current plan.
Councillor Alison Knight
Chief Whip and strategy, RBWM
The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead and the Borough’s Conservative
Councillors wholeheartedly support the retention of 24 hour full time cover
for Windsor Fire Station. This has been our position from the outset and
it remains the same. We will continue to do all we can, along with Windsor
MP Adam Afriyie, to support the fire station at Windsor in continuing to
serve the residents of Windsor and surrounding areas.
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Quoted from Windsor & Eton Express
Mrs Bateman
"We need as many Windsorians as possible to be at that meeting. It is so
important Windsor retains 24-hour-a-day cover."
Mrs Gliksten said in Feb 2007:
"The point I want to make clear is that with Windsor's location, very
often, particularly with road traffic accidents, Windsor's engines can attend
much quicker than the stations.
"It will take much much longer for other stations to reach these accidents."