SIR – The latest proposals from the Labour-led fire authority represent a significant threat to safety. In my community in Baildon , we will see at least a 15 per cent increase in response times as a result of merging Shipley and Idle fire stations.

As any economist will tell you, past performance should not be used as a guide to future performance – new fire hazards appear all the time.

For example, against all professional advice, the Conservative Councillors in Baildon have recently returned a bin to a site which has suffered from a staggering 33 deliberate fires since 2006 (resulting in bills of up to £4,000 each time), and is the only site out of 70-plus sites with a history of arson.

When an accident occurs at Baildon Bridge – the only direct route from Bradford and Shipley – a closure can be in excess of six hours. What will the response time for an emergency be then?

If this is allowed to proceed, there is a tragedy waiting to happen.

Ian Lyons, Baildon Liberal Democrats, Cliffe Avenue, Baildon