Support Market Harborough Liberal Democrats' campaign to safeguard our fire service

10.03.00pm GMT Thu 26th Feb 2009

Market Harborough Liberal Democrats are urging local residents to support their campaign to keep the right for retained fire-fighters to opt out of the European Working Time Directive.

The fire service in most small towns and villages across Britain uses retained staff, who have jobs outside the service but can be called out whenever they are needed. European Union plans to scrap the UK opt out would seriously affect the service they can offer by limiting their weekly working time to 48 hours, including time spent on call.

Please follow the link below to sign the Lib Dem petition and support our campaign on this important issue.

Local Lib Dem councillor Roger Dunton, a former firefighter and senior official in the retained firefighters union, says: "18,000 professionals are at serious risk, and the service they have offered for so many years is under threat. We have to try to do something."

His views are backed by Julia Goldsworthy MP, Lib Dem Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, who says:

"The potential loss of the opt out is deeply concerning. I had the pleasure of visiting Market Harborough a short while ago and there is no doubt that the town, an area that relies so heavily on the wonderful work of the retained fire fighters is typical of the types of community that would be hardest hit.

"It is so important people are made aware of the possible problems and get involved. I have talked with Phil Knowles, Roger Dunton, Sarah Hill and the team in Harborough and I know they are working hard to ensure residents and businesses are given as much information as possible."

Other local Lib Dem campaigners are also involved.

Zuffar Haq, the party's Parliamentary Spokesman For Harborough, says: "I would urge everyone to sign the on-line petition. There is no doubt that the service as we know it is under serious threat."

Phil Knowles, who chairs the town's Lib Dem branch, says: "This situation has the potential to impact on every member of the community. We need to ensure that all information and possible outcomes are highlighted and that the community has the opportunity to explore the situation and to get involved."

Bill Newton Dunn, a Lib Dem Member of the European Parliament for the East Midlands, says: "I strongly support our local firefighters. They provide a wonderful service to the community, and we should do everything to make their lives as easy as possible."

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Sign the Liberal Democrat petition.