Sign our petition to save Meon Valley's fire stations

12.04.00pm GMT Sun 1st Mar 2009

Liz Leffman, Prospective Lib Dem MP for Meon Valley, is launching a campaign to protect Meon Valley's part-time 'retained' fire-fighters from a threat to their working hours, and to save Meon Valley's fire stations from possible closure.

The EU Parliament's recent vote to remove Britain's opt-out from the Working Time Directive could threaten fire cover in rural areas like Meon Valley which rely on retained rather than full-time firefighters, unless the Labour Government acts to ensure the necessary exceptions are in place. Liz has launched a petition at http://ourcampaign.org.uk/meonvalleyfirefighters to ask the Labour Government to intervene.

All of the fire stations in the Meon Valley constituency (Horndean, Wickham, Bishops Waltham, Waterlooville and Droxford) are manned by retained fire fighters. Retained fire-fighters usually have full-time jobs outside the fire service. As a second job, they spend up to 120 hours per week "on-call" - in their own homes or at their regular workplaces. The Working Time Directive's 48 hour maximum working week could mean that retained fire fighters would have to drastically cut the hours that they are available.

"Our highly trained local fire fighters provide an essential, lifesaving service to our communities" said Liz Leffman "For example, at the recent fire at the Kitnocks House home in Curdridge, fire fighters from Bishops Waltham were on the scene and played an essential role in getting the blaze under control.

"Scrapping the opt-out would have a huge impact, not just on our fire services but on many other people and businesses trying to make ends meet in difficult economic times. I'm hoping that the Labour Government will continue to fight to keep the opt-out in on-going negotiations with the European Parliament, and that's why I have launched my petition"