Stewart slams fire service over price list

Highland MSP David Stewart has slammed the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) over a price list of potential costs to the public for non-emergency call outs.

In an attempt to find new sources of income, the service plans to introduce charges for routine services such as home flooding, clearance of roadside debris for motorists, forcing entry to buildings and freeing people who get stuck in lifts.

Mr Stewart said: "The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is a publicly funded organisation which the public already support through paying taxes.

"The idea of someone being rescued from a lift to then be charged for the service stuns me as I’m sure it will many members of the public.

"I am particularly concerned with the costs associated with the cover for venue hire per hour, dependent on the numbers of people the venue holds.

"This looks to me like the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service are putting a price on fire safety which is simply unacceptable."

Mr Stewart claim people in the region already feel "remote" and "cut-off" due to the centralisation of the service.

He added: "These proposed charges will only further remove the important community element of the SFRS and increases risks through people fearing a bill in the post following a call out."

An example of the price list issued by SFRS for cost of services.

Staff costs per hour:

• Firefighter £24

• Crew Manager £27

• Watch Manager A £28

• Watch Manager B £30

• Station Manager £31

• Group Manager £39

Hire per hour:

• Aerial Rescue Pump £285

• Aerial Ladder Platform £274

• Pumping Appliance £262

• Light Vehicles £47

• Fire Crew/Additional Personnel: £24-£39

Venue hire per hour:

• Venues holding up to 12 people £15

• Venues holding 13 to 50 people £25

• Venues holding 51 to 100 people £30

• Venues holding more than 100 people £40

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