20th January 2014 – Responding to today’s announcement by Tyne and Wear Fire Authority regarding changes to the fire and rescue service in the region, Julie said:

“I am shocked, devastated and disgusted at the decision of the Tyne & Wear Fire Authority today, to close Sunderland Central Fire Station and implement other significant cuts which I believe will put at risk the lives of the people of Sunderland and wider Tyne and Wear.

“I do not believe the consultation on the options was meaningful and I wrote to and met with the Chief Fire Officer about my concerns.  He promised to read out my letter at today’s meeting -; he did not do this.  My trust in his leadership of the T&W Fire Service as a result has gone.

“Today I will be writing to the Fire Authority to raise my concerns about the decision and the consultation process.

“I think the Fire Authority needs to go back to the drawing board and look again at how to implement the devastating cuts being imposed by this Government and to also look at the sensible use of its reserves.”