THE fight is on to save Haslemere fire station from losing its full-time night cover.

If plans announced this week are agreed, Haslemere fire station will be manned by full-time firefighters during the day and retained or part-time fire crews responding to emergency calls at night.

The controversial cost-cutting plans had been branded "dangerous and damaging" by some local firefighters. But this week, Surrey County Council's decision-making executive committe has agreed that the Integrated Risk Management Plan, (IRM) will now go out to consultation.

The IRM Plan could result in the loss of full-time night cover in the town and mean a greater reliance on retained crews.

There would be more emphasis on fire- prevention work across the county with trained arson counsellors deployed at each station.

Haslemere firefighters claim the loss of a full-time night cover puts the community at risk, with retained officers unable to provide the same standard of cover.

But Surrey Divisional Officer, Sean Ruth, argues that the changes in staffing arrangements at Haslemere will be more "family friendly" and lead to increased recruitment activity in the area with a greater demand for retained officers.

Last week, Surrey's Assistant Chief Fire Officer, Dave Curry, spoke out in support of the changes.

He argued that Haslemere has been rightly targeted for changes as a low-incident area - with just seven property fires in the town last year, and that retained officers are well-trained and provide sufficient cover in an emergency.

But the assistant secretary for the Surrey Fire Brigade Union, Richard Jones, said: "These cuts will mean that the response times to emergency calls in the area will be delayed and on occasions, will not come from Haslemere's fire appliances at all.

"In the first seven months of this financial year, Haslemere has answered nearly 600 calls to emergencies and provided fire cover in neighbouring towns during busy periods.

In the interim period between the whole-time crew being removed at night and possibly at weekends as well (when more than two thirds of all fire deaths occur), Chief Fire Officer Steve Myers said that some back-up might be sent to Haslemere. "It is a ludicrous idea to take away the crew that is there at present just to keep moving other crews in and out of the town on a daily basis."

Despite Mr Curry's confidence in the role retained officers could play, Mr Jones believes the outlook is much bleaker.

"The retained unit is operating on just 65 per cent of the workforce it needs, resulting in it not being available at all for just over 20 per cent of the time that whole-time fire appliance is.

"This is despite Surrey Fire and Rescue Service spending last year pushing the biggest retained recruitment drive for many years, if not ever.

"If these plans at Haslemere go ahead, the retained unit will need nearly three times as many firefighters as it has at present."

He has further criticised the greater emphasis upon fire prevention schemes saying these are no substitute for basic emergency cover.

"Why should Haslemere foot the bill for community fire safety initiatives through the whole of Surrey at the expense of their safety and pockets?"

County councillor for Haslemere, Christine Stevens, said:"Of course the fire service will have individual views and we'll seek to respect those.

"But it is my understanding that the FBU as a whole is generally happy with the proposals. These are part of a new direction nationally and this will be with the emphasis upon prevention and protection.

"I understand that with some individuals there is concern about how it will affect their jobs, so it is important that the consultation is used wisely so staff fully understand the implications and risks associated with it."

The consultation period will last from November 1 to January 31 during which time feedback from all interested parties will be gathered.