The rejection of the Parkside Fire Station re-development is a victory for the community and a condemnation of privatisation and cuts to public services. The proposals would have given the private company, Revurban, a prime site from which to make millions in profit. In return, the community would have received a sub-standard fire station and poor quality housing.

Liberal Democrat Councillors on the planning committee were split, eventually rejecting the plans 5 to 4 on the grounds of the ‘affordable’ housing quota being unacceptably sub-standard. However, RESPECT believes that the plans should never have been put forward.

The public RESPECT campaign has raised awareness of the real agenda behind the development, our petition and principled stand has helped make the council think twice before giving away our assets to private developers and downgrading our fire service.

RESPECT and the Fire Brigades Union and housing campaigners see the decision as a victory in the larger struggle to defend the Fire Service from cuts and attacks on conditions of service. As with other vital public services, (Health, Education, Housing and the Post Office), our Fire Service is being threatened with ‘modernisation’ agenda. This is Neo-Liberal political jargon for marketisation, privatisation, worsening of working conditions for employees and cuts in services to the public.

Revurban look likely to appeal the decision. We must all continue to resist the profit before people agenda. We will continue to campaign for better housing and direct investment in democratically controlled public services. We aim to elect councillors who are prepared to fight for the principle of public services and affordable social housing. Join Us.

Labels: No Fire Cuts