In response to Cumbria County Council’s announcement on 4th February 2016, that the Labour-Lib Dem run administration will be changing their minds and no longer be taking forward their proposals to close Cumbrian fire stations, Cllr James Airey, Leader of the County’s Conservative Group has said that this was about time and shouldn’t have been proposed to start with.
“Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service staff have been put through such turmoil in the wake of the proposed cuts to fire stations at Arnside, Frizington, Lazonby, Staveley and Walney as well as the proposal to remove a fire engine at Maryport. The Labour-Lib Dem run administration insisted on these cuts and were prepared to do this to Cumbrian people, risking safety and jobs and all for a £300,000 saving in 2016/17. Now that the Cumbrian people have spoken out, petitions have been signed and firefighters have spoken up, the administration have finally listened under pressure."