CONCERNS about fire cover in Surrey were ignored two years ago by the county council, it was claimed this week.
Caterham Hill Lib Dem Councillor John Orrick. – speaking at the county council's cabinet meeting last Tuesday – said his party had warned about co-operation with West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service in 2010.
Surrey County Council has been working on a contingency plan for the past few months, to cope with West Sussex County Council's decision to remove their fire engine from Horley station.
At last week's meeting Cllr Orrick, the Lib Dem's communities spokesperson, asked the Conservative cabinet member for community safety, Kay Hammond, what was being done to ensure fire cover wasn't reduced in the area.
Councillor Hammond responded by saying the council was currently reviewing its options, adding: "The preferred option is to relocate a Surrey fire engine to the Horley area.
"This option is in accordance with the Public Safety Plan principles and public opinion will be gauged through the consultation, due to start this month."
But Cllr Orrick said the cabinet member's answer showed she had no idea what impact changes to cover at Horley would have.
He added: "Saying the county has beaten its own target for reaching life or property threatening fires on more than 80 per cent of occasions in the past is no reassurance for people in the southern band of Surrey who face reduced services."
Plans being discussed to safeguard Surrey's fire cover include moving a fire engine into Horley from another station while a longer term plan includes building a new station in Salfords.