This morning I met Eddie Harrison and some of our hardworking firefighters at Farringdon Community Fire Station.

I listened to their serious concerns about the impact proposed changes will have on our community, following the announcement that Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service have been forced to save millions of pounds as a result of government cuts. Cost-cutting means that one fire engine at Farringdon may be used as an ‘on-call’ engine only, with concerns about what this will mean for emergency response times. I will be meeting with the Chief Fire Officer to press the matter further.

It’s important that local residents have their say on this issue by responding to the public consultation and sharing their views.

This can be done online at http://www.twfire.gov.uk/, or you can attend the public consultation event on Wednesday 5 December from 6-7.30pm at Farringdon Community Academy (Main Hall), Allendale Road, SR3 3EL. All are welcome.