Kevin Foster, Conservative Parliamentary Spokesman for Torbay, has renewed his calls for Devon & Somerset Fire Authority to withdraw a proposal to cut fire cover in Torquay after a stormy consultation meeting at the Riviera Centre on Tuesday 9th April 2013.

Last month Kevin wrote to the Chair of the Authority setting out his concerns about the proposal and the impact it could have on the bay if approved. At the time he called on the authority to abandon the proposal and the public reaction at the official consultation meeting confirmed the fears many have about it. Most local residents were unaware of the meeting due to the details not being publicised widely, with location details only being given to those who pre-registered to attend.

Kevin has welcomed news that Torbay Council will be giving residents a chance to have their say by arranging a public meeting next week on this issue ahead of the consultation closing. The meeting is taking place at the Palace Hotel, Torquay from 6:30pm till 09:30pm on Wednesday 17th April 2013 and will be chaired by Susie Colley, the Chairman of Torquay Neighbourhood Plan and Torre and Upton Community Partnership.

Commenting Kevin said: “Those who attended the meeting last night spoke with one clear voice and rejected this proposal. It is the wrong proposal at the wrong time. I am one of the thousands of people who have already signed the petition against it and would encourage everyone living in the bay to make their views known before it is too late. If the claim this is a genuine consultation means anything then the authority must listen to the united message coming from the bay that this proposal should be scrapped.”

You can respond directly to the consultation being conducted by Devon & Somerset Fire Authority by following this link: http://www.dsfire.gov.uk/AboutUs/HaveYourSay/Index.cfm?siteCategoryId=2&T1ID=13