South Wales Guardian Opinion (From South Wales Guardian)

South Wales Guardian Opinion

6:00am Wednesday 11th April 2012 in News

FEARS over the downgrading of Ammanford fire station are nothing new. Three years ago, a substantial petition was drawn up over fears of job cuts and the loss of frontline services.

Since then, plans for a state-of-the-art Amman Valley station have been drawn up and approved. The new base at Gwaun cae Gurwen – a logical geographical choice for crews covering the Amman and Swansea Valleys – is due to open this summer.

Yet this welcome step is now tempered by revived fears concerning Ammanford.

We are told the number of firefighters have been reduced from 15 to 14 – more serious are claims that one of the station’s two fire engines could be switched to GcG.

The concern is that while communities in the Upper AmmanValley will undoubtedly benefit from the opening of the new station, Ammanford and the surrounding area may be left somewhat exposed.

Will the ten-minute response time specified by theWelsh Assembly continue to be met?What happens if two major incidents coincide?

And if one of Ammanford’s fire engines is indeed relocated to the new station in GcG, is there not a real danger that fire chiefs will have ended up robbing Peter to pay Paul?

RESIDENTS of the Ger-yr-Afon estate in Glanaman reckon they’re being short-changed by Carmarthenshire county council.

They feel their road needs resurfacing and their houses require a coat of paint.

No doubt their complaints will strike a chord with residents of other estates.

Legitimate these concerns may be – unfortunately numerous other council tenants probably feel they’re in the same boat.