FIREFIGHTERS issued a stark warning as members of the public came together to discuss the future of their fire station.
Barrow and Furness MP, John Woodcock, called a special meeting tonight to give Walney residents the opportunity to raise concerns about the future of their fire service.
The station has been earmarked for closure as part of the ferocious cuts imposed on Cumbria County Council by central government.
The closure is expected to save £12,500 a year but residents and firefighters say that is no substitute for saving lives.
Marilyn Ives, of Weymouth Street on Walney, said: “We want to protect our island and protect our families.
“They are looking to save £12,500 a year but a life is worth more than £12,500. “Closing the fire station is putting lives at risk.
“What if the Barrow engine is out? The next one is Ulverston and how long will it take them to get here?”
The meeting was attended by Walney residents, Cumbria County Councillors Mel Worth and Frank Cassidy, firefighters from Walney crew, Mike Wilkinson and Simon Morgan, and Barrow and Furness MP, John Woodcock.
All parties voiced their concerns over the impact the closure would have on the Walney community and the Furness peninsula as a whole.
Mr Wilkinson said: “It will take us much longer to respond to incidents because it would take us longer to travel and time will cost lives.
“The extra 10, 15 or 20 minutes it takes for us to get there will cost lives.”
Walney fire crew is the busiest on call team in the county and responded to 174 call outs last year alone - 30 of which were in November.
Having seen numbers deplete from 15 to five over recent years, Walney fire crew has had its fair share of drawbacks but now its is saying enough is enough.
Mr Morgan said: "We agree that money has to be save but £12,500 in our view is a drop in the ocean when it comes to safety."
Mr Wilkinson added: "This is about the whole of the Furness peninsula and about saving lives across the area."
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