Fire and rescue… rescued


Jon Dale and Neal Davis, Mansfield Socialist Party

Warsop fire station in Nottinghamshire has been saved.

Nearly 7,000 across the county signed petitions. A thousand signed ours – against the closure, the removal of Mansfield’s second fire engine and all fire cuts.

Without this strong campaign, Warsop could have closed. But the removal of Mansfield’s second fire engine and the loss of firefighters’ jobs still threaten this vital service.

The coming district council by-election will have been in councillors’ minds. It would have become a referendum on the future of Warsop fire station!

Eleven out of 19 fire authority members are Labour. All agreed to remove Mansfield and Beeston’s second engines and sack 32 firefighters. The Labour chair of the authority, Cllr Darrell Pulk, gave the game away:

“No one from any of the political parties suggested there would be more money coming to us in the future. We are in a difficult situation and won’t be saved by the cavalry coming over the hill with a pot of money, whoever gets elected into power next.”

Building an electoral alternative to these parties is vital. Having played a key role in saving the station from closure, Mansfield Socialist Party intends to carry the momentum moving forward into the by-election.

The Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) will be standing a candidate against all cuts to fire stations and all public services.