A good idea, but badly described
HIGHLANDS and Islands Fire and Rescue Service’s move to reduce the number of fire appliances responding to call-outs by automatic fire alarm activations is a good idea.
There has been a marked increase in the number of false alarms generated by automatic fire alarm and detection systems and in 2010/11 such calls accounted for almost 40 per cent of those received by the brigade.
Correspondence from the HIFRS has been arriving through the doors of local firms and accommodation providers in the strath this week to let them know what they are doing to tackle the problem and save money.
However, some hard-pressed business people may still be scratching their heads wondering what exactly is going to turn up on their doorstep, reading through the information.
It’s a good example of the ‘official-speak’ that the public has come to loathe but which is still used by many, many public organisations.
So well done to the fire brigade for saving the taxpayer some money but they might need to spend a little of it on a distance learning course with the Plain English Campaign.
THE BRAVE FEW WERE REWARDED
FORTUNE favours the brave and it certainly did on Thursday and Saturday with the Grantown Show and the Abernethy Games escaping this summer’s never-ending downpours.
The show and the games are many months in the planning so any decision to cancel has to be an absolute last resort.
It would leave caterers and local suppliers out of pocket – not to mention the organising committees themselves.
They deserved a break – as do we all – after the weather we have endured so far.
