CRAVEN is again facing the loss of vital services - just weeks after the Herald launched a campaign to save the local police division from extinction.

This week, plans were put forward to remove the emergency tender from Skipton Fire Service, and they have already met with strong opposition.

And we can also reveal that the county council is intending to move its historic records from the town.

North Yorkshire's chief fire officer Eric Clark is proposing to remove Skipton's emergency tender, and use it as a "spare vehicle" for the whole brigade. To compensate, the town's two remaining appliances have been equipped with hydraulic rescue equipment.

Mr Clark has given further assurances that equipment required for chemical incidents and the like will still be made available at the town's fire station.

But the suggestions have caused concern - we understand even Skipton's own firefighters have called the proposals "ridiculous".

Craven District Council's policy and resources committee opposed the "cuts" on Wednesday, with members using the words such as disgraceful and sad.

Coun Joan Ibbotson said: "We are becoming the poor relations to neighbouring authorities. They just keep chipping away at every resource that Craven has."

And Coun Ken Hart added: "We should not be thinking about cutting services, but improving them to come in line with Harrogate."

Meanwhile, Coun Dennis Hall said: "The area is being stripped of all its essential front-line services and this has to stop. It's essential that if there is another accident we retain this tender.

"They talk about cost effectiveness, I don't think cost comes into safety. We are talking about people's lives here, not money."

Coun Janet Gott agreed, adding: "If there is an explosion or a burst gas main, we need this tender", while Coun Marcia Turner pointed out how valuable the fire service had been at recent accidents such as the canal boat disaster.

However, Coun David Crawford said: "People in outlying areas cannot have everything on their doorstep."

Committee members resolved to reply to the chief fire officer, opposing the proposed reduction.

Meanwhile, historic registers recording more than 150 years of Craven births, deaths and marriages are to be transferred from Skipton to Harrogate.

The October 1 transfer marks the end of two years' reorganisation within North Yorkshire County Council's registration service. The move is designed to centralise the service in Harrogate.

All local offices will remain open, and will be linked by computer, meaning people visiting Skipton or Settle register offices can still obtain certificates and order copies by credit card.

But Craven people have already begun voicing their opposition.

An angry letter to the Herald reads: "It will result in Skipton losing its separate identity (established in the 1830s) as an individual registration area."

Although the Skipton and Settle register offices will remain active, opening hours will change.

For those wanting to get married at the Skipton office they will have the choice of three days and two afternoons a week, as opposed to the current five mornings. But the overall opening time is extended by one and half hours.

Gordon Gresty, head of trading standards which oversees registration services, said: "The old system was antiquated and the new moves will be better for everyone."

Rona Rowsby, Skipton's deputy interim superintendent registrar added: "The office will continue to be run, like it has been for years, by Angela Baker. But, because she will be on her own, people must make appointments."

*The campaign to save the police division is continuing.

This week, Skipton MP and former local government minister David Curry said he would oppose any moves to disband the division. "It has its own very distinct character, and I feel any merger would not be efficient."

He added: "I have to make sure the people of Craven have the best possible policing, and it is not the best possible if the division is downgraded and made a subordinate of somewhere else."

He added there were other divisions in North Yorkshire where economies could be better justified.

Chief Constable David Kenworthy is due to answer concerns at a public meeting in Skipton Town Hall on Tuesday, at 7pm.

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