Ringinglow Fire Station axed by Labour

4.31.49pm UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 26th Jan 2006

Ringinglow Fire Station will close

The South Yorkshire Fire Authority (SYFA) have controversially voted to close Ringinglow Fire Station in Sheffield today. Despite protests from local residents, councillors and the local MP the board voted to close the station and sell off the land on a close split vote.

The officers in the South Yorkshire Fire Authority proposed to close and sell the site to fund improvements elsewhere in South Yorkshire. They also stated that Ringinglow was in a 'low' risk area and therefore could allow the station to close.

During the meeting the Liberal Democrat members of the board moved an amendment directing to keep the station open. They argued that Ringinglow did not just cover the immediate area, but it provided cover for other pumps in Sheffield and was vital for the Cities fire coverage.

Lib Dems also highlighted that the SYFA's assessment of 'low' and 'high' risk areas was flawed. They revealed that there had been more deaths, injuries and incidents as a result of fire in the Ringinglow area than the neighbouring 'high' risk area.

Despite this Labour members on the board didn't support the amendment and voted to axe Ringinglow station. Controversially two Sheffield Labour councillors, Cllr Hussain and Cllr Furniss, voted for the closure of Ringinglow despite the fact that Sheffield will now receive less fire coverage as a result.

Cllr Paul Scriven, Leader of the Sheffield Liberal Democrat group and member of the South Yorkshire Fire Authority, said: -

"This is a sad day for local residents and for Sheffield as a whole. This decision means that the whole of Sheffield will be worse off in terms of fire coverage. I am disappointed that, despite the fact we showed up the officers evaluation to be incorrect, Labour councillors could not support the Lib Dem amendment to save Ringinglow"

"I am shocked and saddened that both the Sheffield Labour councillors, who effectively held the balance of power at the meeting, did not support my amendment to save Ringinglow. They must now answer to the people of Sheffield who will be living in a less safe City as a result of their actions. I believe that decision to close Ringinglow was based on land value and not on the best interests of Sheffield or South Yorkshire"