I write to remind readers that the important Cumbria County Council consultation about the future of their local Fire and Rescue Service concludes on January 22. For the safety of all our community it is vital that as many as possible respond.

Please do not fall into the trap of thinking that recent events will already have convinced our local politicians that the proposals to remove the fire stations in Staveley and Arnside were ill conceived.

While recent floods clearly demonstrate the need for rapid local response to emergencies, the county council still has to find substantial savings. Nor should you assume that this only affects Staveley and Arnside. Let me give you some facts: Staveley Firefighters were called out to 52 incidents in 2014, an average of one a week. In 2015, boosted by recent events, this rose to 81, although even this is likely to be an underestimate as the 14 recorded incidents on December 5 demanded they move from one to the next with no respite or time to log all details.

Their day started at 8.38 am. and finished at 10.43 pm. The records show that they attended emergencies from Kendal, to Burneside, from Windermere to Ambleside and as far afield as Grasmere, a range of response that is replicated across the whole of 2014 and 2015.

This is a community-wide concern; the vast majority of Staveley’s call outs take them to the Kendal or Windermere area. What is more, last year these included attendance at four fatal accident incidents but don’t forget, in every emergency lives are at risk.

So, not just a Staveley problem –this decision potentially affects all Gazette readers.

Are we really going to thank these volunteers by saying ‘thanks but No Thank You’? Are we really going to accept in the 21st century that we have a more inferior emergency service than we have had for generations? Are we really going to face the next flood without their support?

So, we still need your help to convince our elected representatives to protect our basic, vital services.

If, like me and like Staveley with Ings Parish Council, you think the proposed cuts at Staveley and Arnside are unacceptable, I urge you to join the Gazette campaign before January 22.

If you can, go on line and complete the consultation response (follow the links on the County Council website to: Have Your Say – Consultations – Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service, Annual Action Plan 2016-17 – Respond to this consultation) or just write to Stewart Young (Council Leader), Pat Bell (Deputy Leader), Jim Onions (Chief Fire Officer) and Diane Wood (Chief Exec) at The Courts, Carlisle, CA3 8NA and tell them what you think.

Many thanks for your support – we will all be safer as a result.

Arthur Capstick

Chair, Staveley with Ings Parish Council