CHANGES TO FIRE SERVICE MUST MAINTAIN RESPONSE TIMES SAYS MP

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 17th Sep 2003

Following a meeting yesterday with Surrey Fire Chiefs Sue Doughty said "Changes to cover proposed for Guildford Fire Station must ensure that emergency cover is not reduced but I strongly welcome the news that Cranleigh will now have a manned Fire Station. It is acceptable that we are paying for housing and maintaining appliances in Cranleigh but if there is an emergency South of Guildford, the crew has to fight through the traffic from Guildford or elsewhere."

"Modernisation is necessary to ensure that Council Tax payers are getting the best deal possible from the Fire Service but it is essential that response times in Guildford and on the A3 are not made longer."