West Yorkshire fire chiefs look set to press ahead with proposals to scrap four emergency tenders - including one in Bradford - despite fierce opposition.

At a meeting of the West Yorkshire Fire and Civil Defence Authority on Friday members will be asked to consider proposals to get rid of the tenders.

And in a report to the meeting, Chief Fire Officer Jim Manuel emphasises that the fire authority's recent purchase of heavy rescue pumps (HRPs) will lead to a "safer and more effective" new generation of equipment.

The row over the emergency tenders broke out in February when the fire authority announced plans to save £500,000 by phasing out the emergency tenders, one of which is based at Idle fire station.

Heavy Rescue Pumps will replace the emergency tenders and will have demountable "pods" which containing equipment.

Councillor Barry Midwood, (Lab, Eccleshill), a member of the Fire and Civil Defence Authority, said: "The plans are part of the development of the brigade and I would hope they would not hinder the effectiveness of it. The chief fire officer has assured members this will bring a more effective response."

The move would lead to the loss of 32 operational posts through "natural wastage".

Proposals were then put out for consultation with various bodies across the district, including the Fire Brigades' Union and Bradford Council.

Now the fire authority has received seven letters of objection from Bradford Councillors Phil Thornton (Lab, Shipley East), Margaret Eaton (Con, Bingley Rural) and Liberal Democrat councillors John Cole (Baildon), Jeanette Sunderland (Idle), David Ward (Idle), Allan Hillary (Bolton) and Sam Micklem (Baildon).

In a submission to the fire authority, the Fire Brigades Union has made clear its objection to the removal of the tenders and reliance on alternative heavy rescue pumps.

The report says: "The heavy rescue pumps will carry some of the equipment, but will never replace a dedicated rescue vehicle with a fully trained crew.

Mr Manuel said he has noted the objections but wishes to emphasise the fire authority's recent purchase of new rescue equipment, providing a "safer and more effective extrication capability" for all fire appliances.

In his report, he states: "By the end of this month, there will be five pumping appliances in operational use which will have heavy duty rescue equipment exceeding the capabilities of those carried on the emergency tenders - these are known as HRPs.

"Throughout the course of the current financial year, a further nine HRPs will be deployed, making a total of 14."

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