Fire crews’ children’s party axed

Dec 14 2007 by David Bartlett, Liverpool Daily Post

A TRADITIONAL children’s Christmas party has been cancelled by Merseyside fire service officials because of health and safety red tape.

Last night, the Fire Brigades Union said the service had effectively cancelled Christmas at Toxteth fire station.

The service said it had been forced to cancel the party because it was facing £350,000 worth of compensation claims because of trips and slips on engine house floors.

It came as the Merseyside fire authority voted not to double the allowances of members from £7,595 to £16,533.

The councillors on the authority voted instead to keep the allowances at their current level following an outcry about the suggestion.

Christmas parties at fire stations for the children of firefighters are a long standing tradition, used as a way of helping build morale and team spirit, said Les Skarratts, branch secretary of the Merseyside FBU.

“It’s almost like the fire service is cancelling Christmas at Toxteth station.

“We have teams of children in the fire station, like Scouts, on a weekly basis.

“But the children of firefighters are not welcome.”

He said tickets were sold for the event with the proceeds going to children’s charities.

“Those charities will be missing out as well now.”

“If the real reason is this slips and trips excuse then it looks like the kids are being punished for failures of the service of the past.

“We know that they hate us, but it seems they hate our kids as well.”

He said he was pleased that “common sense had prevailed” over the issue of doubling fire authority member’s allowances.

A spokesman for the fire service said: “We are very sympathetic to Christmas parties in fire stations.

“But in the risk assessment for Toxteth fire station engine house floor area – in light of litigation claims for falls and slips totalling over £350,000 – it was deemed not a suitable area for a Christmas party.

“Other avenues are being explored by the fire service to ensure the party goes ahead at a different venue.”

davidbartlett