A public meeting organised by Helena Dollimore, Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Hastings and Rye, is being held this Sunday, February 26, from 1pm at Rye’s Tilling Green Community Centre to protect the fire service from proposed cuts which would affect the number of fire engines operating in Hastings and Rye.
On the back of the recent downgrade of Rye Fire Station, last month the East Sussex Fire Authority laid out proposals to change the way the local fire service operates, with a proposal to downgrade the Ridge Fire Station in Hastings and to rethink a previous commitment to increase the number of fire engines stationed on duty at any time.
The Ridge Fire Station provides a vital service to both the northern edge of Hastings and surrounding villages including Guestling, Fairlight, Pett, Pett Level, and Icklesham as well as Rye and Winchelsea.
Helena Dollimore, Labour Candidate for Hastings and Rye
Cllr Phil Scott, ESCC councillor and East Sussex Fire Authority member
Residents across Rye and the surrounding area were quick to show their support for the local fire service and opposition to any further downgrade. In just under a month, over 2,500 people signed a petition started by Helena Dollimore, and with the campaign receiving such overwhelming support in such a short space of time the fire authority were forced to embark on a rethink.
Our community now have until June to show the strength of public feeling as the fire authority undergo a reconsideration of the way they provide emergency response for the eastern area of the service, focussing on the Rye end of East Sussex.
The major fire at the George hotel in Rye (pictured above) in 2019 highlighted the number of engines needed to fight such a blaze and concerns were expressed then about the delay in getting an aerial platform there to fight the flames from above.
You can sign the petition to save our fire service at www.helenadollimore.com/saveourfireservice.
Image Credits: Rye News library , Helena Dollimore's office .