Fire cover tax protest call

Inderdeep Bains • Published 28 Feb 2009 10:00 0 Comments

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A WINDSOR man is calling on residents to withhold the fire service precept from their council tax in a stand against plans to scrap 24-hour cover at Windsor Firestation.

David Cox of Ruddlesway has made the call after the Royal Borough lost a high court bid against Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service's decision for night-time closure at the St Mark's Road station last week.

Mr Cox, who has lived in Windsor all his life, said: "How dare the fire service dictate to the local community in this manner - the residents pay for the Fire Service via their council tax and they are legally bound to provide adequate fire cover for the community. I think that withdrawing that service is a huge risk to people who live in the area."

He added: "I for one will now be taking the only action now open to me - as soon as the cover is withdrawn I will be deducting the fire-service contribution from my council tax payments and I urge all Windsor residents to do the same. It is about time that these pompous bureaucrats realise that they cannot push the residents of Windsor around in this way. They are trying to save money which isn't theirs, it is ours."

"If everyone withdraws their council tax contributions it might finally get the message through to them and they certainly won't be able to prosecute thousands of people for non-payment. The amount is relatively small at the moment around £40 to £50, but it is the principle of it. We have to make a stand."

The night-time cover is expected to end in late 2010 with cover being provided by Slough Firestation from 8pm to 8am. The night-time crews will be redeployed to provide cover in Wokingham.

This article appeared in Royal Borough Observer 27 Feb 09

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