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Don't tamper with fire cover
WE are sadly becoming increasingly accustomed to howls of anguish from the public sector over government proposals to slash 25 per cent from budgets.
However the latest protests are particularly worrying, coming from the head of South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, Mark Smitherman.
For he has in the past found himself at the other side of the argument, defending changes in working patterns and a shake-up of the service, interpreted by his staff as cutbacks.
Now he is fulsome in his outspoken attack on any effects massive cuts would have on the safety his people can provide to the population of South Yorkshire.
These are strong words - and should be taken very seriously indeed.
Mr Smitherman has burned more than his share of the midnight oil trying to shape his service for the challenges of the future.
Not all of these have met with the approval of his team. In fact, there has been militant opposition to his suggestions. However, we believe that he has acted with the best interests of the people of South Yorkshire at heart, putting forward proposals which will allow the fire service to best respond to a changing face of the region.
To now expect him to drastically reduce the budget with which he operates the service can only lead to one thing - a degrading of the cover provided to the people of South Yorkshire.
While this is a service we tend to take for granted, everybody sleeps more easily in their beds knowing that the men and women of South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue are on hand to come to our aid when needed.
We believe this is one area which should not be tampered with by any cost-cutting bureaucratic exercise.
Time for a change of heart on Marie
THE authorities should have a change of heart over the case of Marie Woodcock who fled her native Cameroon after her first husband was arrested for anti-Government activities and who has now been diagnosed with terminal lung cancer.
She wants her two children, who stayed behind when she ran from Africa, to be given permission to visit her in Sheffield, for what could be the very last time. But an application for visas has been turned down.
Providing the right undertakings are given in the case, there is absolutely no reason why the children, now aged 15 and 18, should not be given permission to visit their mother.
Such a dogmatic standpoint reflects very poorly on the ability of this country to show compassion in very pressing circumstances.
We believe that a change of heart would be understood and welcomed by the people of this city.
Got a view? Leave a comment below.
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Weather for Sheffield
Saturday 26 May 2012
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