Leigh Fire-fighters object to the proposal that fire cover for Leigh and the surrounding area, which includes Astley, Westleigh, Lowton and Golborne, be reduced from two fire pumps to one fire pump.

Just over twenty years ago Leigh Fire Station had three fire pumps covering the same area. A new fire station was built at St Helens Road in 1989 to house two fire pumps and an aerial appliance. Now thirteen years later we are being told that one fire pump can cover the same area that was once covered by three, in spite of the fact that the population of the area has increased considerably.

The Community Action Party believes that this is entirely a cost cutting exercise by the politicians in control of the Greater Manchester Fire Service and we entirely support the views of the Leigh Fire-fighters.

We believe that to try to save money when it comes to a matter of life or death is an outrage. For Leigh, Astley, Westleigh, Lowton and Golborne to lose 50% of their fire cover is unacceptable and the whole community should support the Leigh Fire-fighters campaign.

The need for two fire pumps in this area was highlighted when a woman needed hospital treatment after an early morning blaze in Golborne.

The fire, which is thought to have been started by a cigarette, destroyed a first floor flat and hair salon below. Two fire crews from Leigh fire station arrived at the scene and used two jets to extinguish the blaze.