Cuts endanger lives
REGARDLESS of which party emerged victorious from the General Election, everyone knew because of the precarious economic situation there would have to be some serious cloth-cutting right across the board when it came to public services.
But what happens when that "cloth-cutting" ends up possibly endangering people's lives?
Because, in my opinion, proposals to shut Findon fire station are ultimately putting local people in danger.
There aren't enough column inches to do justice to the work our county fire brigade, both full and part-time, do 365 days a year – saving lives, whilst at certain times putting their own lives at risk.
It's part and parcel of their jobs and I wouldn't like to put a figure on how many lives the firefighters at Findon have saved over the years.
But that doesn't cut any ice within the corridors of power at County Hall, where clearly saving money is more important than saving lives.
Funny, that, coming from the same organisation that revealed its elected councillors claimed 1.3million of our council taxes, in expenses and allowances last year.
Perhaps, before they think about shutting fire stations to save money, they should look at the wider issue, including what some councillors do for their money.
Are some of them as cost-effective as keeping a fire station open?
And finally, another one of those questions I know at least one Herald reader will have the answer to.
As a very young lad, in the early 1970s, I seem to recall on a trip to Worthing Pier, aside from paying 2p to see the Monkey Orchestra perform in the amusement arcade, I can remember seeing a large model railway layout in the Southern Pavilion, now the Pier nightclub.
Was this just a one-off event or was it a regular attraction?
And as regards the Monkeys, are they still playing the same tune and is it still 2p?
Ian Hart's comment is published in the Herald series every Thursday
-------------------------------------
Click here to go back to Harty on the news.
Where are you? Add your pin to the Herald's international readers' map by clicking here.
Email the Herald: letters@worthingherald.co.uk
Click here for the Herald staff directory.
Want to read this page in French, German, Spanish, Polish, Portuguese, Urdu or 48 other languages? click here for Google translate.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Worthing
Monday 13 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 2 C to 7 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 4 C to 7 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: North
