Published: Friday, 13th February, 2009 12:30pm

Battle on to protect retained firefighters

PEEBLESSHIRE could be left high and dry if a fight to reverse strict Euro working hour restrictions fails.

The European Parliament voted in December to end Britain"s Opt-out of the Working Time Directive, which currently protects retained firefighters and other emergency services cover.

But local politicians have vowed to fight the ruling - and protect Tweeddale"s three stations and 41 firefighters.

The region is entirely covered by on-call crews in Peebles (18), West Linton (12) and Innerleithen (11) at the moment - and neighbouring Penicuik is also a retained station.

A final decision on ending the opt-out will be made by the European Union conciliation committee in the coming months.

This week MPs in Westminster debated the fall-out from losing the Opt-out.

And MSP Liam McArthur from Orkney raised a motion in the Scottish Parliament calling for protection of the country"s retained fire service.

MSP Jeremy Purvis believes a special opt-out for emergency services could be the answer. He told the Peeblesshire News: 'We want to see specific opt-outs for retained firefighters and other emergency cover.

'This would have a direct impact on the Peebles and Penicuik areas - it would mean the fire service having to review its rural cover across the country and that could mean many stations closing.

'It will seriously impede upon the ability of voluntary firefighters in my constituency to continue providing the life-saving cover they currently do.'

Many countries across Europe have already adopted a 48-hour maximum working week.

But the rules include on-call time.

And almost all retained firefighters from across Peeblesshire have other day jobs as well as offering between 80 and 120 hours cover each week.

Tweeddale MP David Mundell told us: 'It is a cause for great concern and shows once again that bureaucrats in Brussels have no understanding of the issues facing rural communities and the need for flexibility in providing vital services.

'There is no realistic alternative to the retained firefighters in our most rural communities if we want to guarantee that firefighters can get to fires in a reasonable time.

'That"s why we must do all we can to resist changes which will threaten the future of retained firefighters. We should be celebrating the achievements of these pubic-spirited individuals not calling their existence in question.""

An on-line petition has been started and it is hoped further pressure from politicians and unions will convince the European Union to allow special Opt-outs.

A spokesman for Lothian and Borders Fire Brigade said: 'We are obviously very concerned over the implications of this for our retained firefighters, who provide a vital and cost effective service across much of the area we cover, and particularly in the Scottish Borders.

'We have added our views to the debate over the working time

directive and now await the outcome, where the full impact on our

retained service will have to be addressed in the light of any changes

introduced.'

The nearest full-time stations to Peeblesshire are Galashiels and Edinburgh - more than half-and-hour away from most settlements.