Dear all,
I hope you are keeping well. Thank you to everyone who has signed our petition regarding the threat to our brilliant local fire service. Over 2000 of you have already signed my petition opposing these changes, and I write to invite you to join one of the public meetings I am holding to update you on the campaign and hear how you can help us stop any downgrade of our local fire service. We will be holding these meetings across Hastings and Rye so do check below for the nearest one to you.
Saturday 25th February, 2pm Icklesham Memorial Hall
Saturday 25th February, 2pm Winchelsea New Hall
Sunday 26th February, 1pm Tilling Green Community Centre
Sunday 26th February, 4pm West Hill Community Centre
Saturday 11th March, 1:30pm Fairlight Village Hall
Saturday 11th March, 4pm Guestling Village Hall
If you have any issues on the day then please call 07514 731893.
At the meeting we will be joined by local firefighters to hear more about how we can help.
Recently, the East Sussex Fire Authority laid out proposals to change the way the local fire service operates, with a proposal to downgrade the Ridge Fire Station in Hastings and to rethink a previous commitment to increase the number of fire engines stationed on duty at any time in Hastings. As you will know, The Ridge Fire Station provides a vital service to both the northern edge of Hastings and surrounding villages including Guestling, Fairlight, Pett, Pett Level and Icklesham as well as Rye and Winchelsea.
Thanks to your overwhelming support and our campaign, the proposals are now undergoing a rethink , but we now have until June to show the strength of public feeling on this as the Fire Authority are currently embarking on a reconsideration of ‘the way we provide emergency response for the East of the Service’ focussing on our patch of East Sussex.
All of us know how important the service our fire fighters provides is, and as we face the increased number of extreme weather events that climate change brings this is only more true. In the past year alone we have seen not just several large fires but also Storm Eunice, flooding, the extreme heat and wildfires in Hastings and Rye.
Our firefighters put their lives on the line to keep us safe so it is only right they have the equipment and resources to do their job safely and quickly. I hope to see you at one of the meetings.
If you can’t make it then of course feel free to get in touch with your comments or questions. You may wish to let me know your priorities by answering a few questions here .
Please do continue to encourage friends and family to sign the petition at https://www.helenadollimore.com/saveourfireservice Thanks again for your support.
If you would like a campaign poster to put in your window then just let me know!
Helena Dollimore