Nia Griffith MP has expressed her anger at those members of Mid and West Wales Fire Authority who refused to back the Labour Councillors’ motion condemning the cuts to Llanelli Fire Station and calling for a return to negotiations.
“Local Labour Councillors Calum Higgins and Jan Williams were speaking up for the people of Llanelli when they forced an extraordinary meeting and proposed the motion condemning the cuts to Llanelli Fire Station and calling for a meaningful return to negotiations with the Fire Brigades Union. They had the full support of Labour councillors from Neath Port Talbot, Swansea and Pembrokeshire. I am angry and dismayed that after 3 hours of debate, the unholy “coalition alliance” which includes Plaid Cymru, Lib Dems, Conservatives and Independents voted against the motion, outnumbering the Labour councillors 12- 10. I always try and work cross-party in saving local services, and I had hoped for support for Llanelli from some of the other parties. They were warned in January by the Technical Advisory Panel that they would be in breach of the working time directive but they still have not sorted that out. Those individuals who voted against the motion are now responsible for halving the number of firefighters at Llanelli Fire Station, and any consequences that may bring.”