ANGRY town councillors are “disgusted” that Harwich’s MP has not fought to retain full-time firefighters at Dovercourt Fire Station.

Essex Fire Service put forward three proposals to help cut its annual budget by up to £7million a year.

But all three options would see the day-time crew at Dovercourt downgraded to an on-call service, replacing full-time crews with retained firefighters.

Harwich Town Council fears that due to a lack of on-call firefighters, there will not always be enough people to crew the town’s four-man engines.

It had called on residents in Harwich to choose the fourth choice – not supporting any of the options – in the consultation.

The town council wrote to Harwich MP Bernard Jenkin asking for his views on the issue.

He replied, stating: “I met the management of the Essex Fire Service and they made their case for the change to an on-call service. I made clear to them that it is disappointing that any change is necessary.

“However, it is clear this change will safeguard this level of service in the town and ensure it is sustainable in the long term.

“Anything less than an ‘on call’ service in Dovercourt would be unacceptable. Without a change now, the future of the local service would be in jeopardy.”

But town councillors criticised Mr Jenkin for failing to fight to save the full-time crew and have written back to say they are “disgusted” with his response.

Councillor Pam Morrison said: “Anything less than an on-call service means no fire station at all – and, of course, we are not going to accept that.

“He doesn’t seem to understand the three options put forward takes away full-time firefighters – and that is what we want and need.

“Instead of talking just to the fire authority, he should have spoken to the people he represents and the firefighters. I’m outraged by this.”

But Mr Jenkin hit back at the council for wanting to fight “a vainglorious action that is bound to be defeated”.

Harwich and Manningtree Standard:

He said: “This is the Labour Party in full cry winding people up.

“What I am interested in is maintaining effective fire cover for Harwich and Dovercourt.

“There are retained stations all over Essex that provide effective cover. Would they rather this fire station closes than move to this more economic system?

“There are far fewer callouts than there used to be, far fewer house fires or business fires.

“They can stick their head in the sand and pretend that nothing will change, but they are living in the past.”