A Lothian MSP has called on First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to ensure fire services across Edinburgh have the resources to ensure they are fully staffed, following the closure of Marionville Fire Station on Saturday.
The Scottish Conservative MSP raised the closure of the station at First Minister’s Questions, outlining the concerns of the Fire Brigades Union who said they are “embarrassed” at what the centralised service has become.
In response, the First Minister outlined extra funding for the fire service, as well as stressing that a service will be able to respond to emergency calls.
However, the First Minister also made a point about the differences in the number of firefighters per population between Scotland and England, despite the fire service being fully devolved to the SNP Government.
Photo – Andrew Cowan/Scottish Parliament
Commenting Gordon Lindhurst MSP said: “What happened with the closure of Marionville Fire Station at the weekend cannot be allowed to happen again.
“Local residents will rightfully be concerned by this news, which happened in the constituency of the SNP Minister who is responsible for the fire service.
“That is why I raised the concerns of the union with the First Minister, to ask her to commit to fully supporting our fire service.
“An increase in funding is of course welcome, but it was disappointing that the First Minister felt the need to make a point about the differences in the number of firefighters between here and England. These comparisons don’t take account of relevant factors such as geography, for example.
“Instead, I would have liked her to have taken on board the concerns on centralisation that the union clearly has and addressed them.
“Our firefighters on the front line deserve to be fully supported and I will continue to pressure the SNP Government into ensuring they have the resources to protect our residents.”
