HAMPSHIRE Fire and Rescue Service came under more pressure to abandon plans to cut the service across the county.

Residents last night called on fire chiefs to rethink “dangerous” proposals to save money.

Emotions ran high at a public meeting in Southampton in the latest round of a public consultation into Hampshire's Fire and Rescue’s plans.

They gathered at a meeting in St Deny's Church in Dundee Road, where members of the public got the chance to quiz fire chiefs on the controversial changes to the fire service.

Plans have been put forward to cut the number of firefighter post in Hampshire, which currently stands at around 1,500, by 225 through natural wastage, but all 51 stations in the area remaining open.

There are also plans to have many fire engines throughout the county replaced with smaller, first response vehicles, loaded with new equipment such as a lance water jet.

Finally, fire chiefs are proposing a 1.99 per cent increase in council tax to help fund the service, the highest they can raise without causing a costly referendum.

The extra funding would give the Hampshire Fire and Rescue, who have not raised council tax in the last five years, an additional £740,000 in funding.

Assistant Chief Fire Officer Andy Bowers told the meeting: "It's time to have a good look at our resources and see if they best match the risk we are now facing.

"We regard ourselves as one of the best fire and rescue services in the country."

The need to save money comes after recent government cuts in funding for the fire and rescue service.

Mr Bowers said: "If we do nothing we will face a £16million shortfall in our expenditure."

But concerns were raised over using smaller appliances that can carry less firefighters and the dangers that will impose on people in danger of fires and the firefighters themselves.

The first response vehicles can carry two firefighters and if there is a house fire, two will attend and begin work on the putting the fire out while waiting for backup from other stations.

But many people at the meeting expressed their dismay saying it will leave people waiting longer if they need to be rescued, which requires four firefghters and may put the firefighters themselves at risk as it was suggested they may attempt a rescue in the heat of the moment before waiting for additional help.

Mr Bowers said that although it is preferred to send four firefighters to large house fires, they will send just two on the smaller appliances and send other firefighters who are near.

Their argument is that the two firefighters can begin to fight the fire once they are there, but members of the audience shouted that they would not be rescuing anybody from the fire during this time.

Many people in the crowd applauded Declan Clune, a trade union activist, when he said: “The cuts that are happening to the services here and in the police are dangerous.”

Mr Bowers said: “No one is as concerned about people’s safety as I am - it is what I think about at work everyday and it is what what think about at home. That is my priority every day.”

The general consensus amongst the audience was that they would be happy to pay more to preserve the fire service and there was a loud cheer when leader of Southampton City Council Simon Letts said he would be prepared to pay more to protect the service.

Although many then questions why they were being asked to pay more when they would be getting less firefighters in return, with the fire chiefs explaining it was needed to make up the shortfall they are facing due to government cuts.

There was also emotional arguments against fire chiefs proposals to reduce the number of traditional fire engines at Hightown from two to one with a second, smaller sized vehicle replacing the second.

Jamie Lonnen, the Fire Brigade Union representative for Hightown fire station and a firefighter there for 15 years, questioned how effective this would make the station in protecting such as populated area, especially overnight as only one vehicle would be operational then.

He said: “Ultimately we want to protect to people we serve, that is the primary objective, and we want to voice our concerns so people become more aware of what is going on.”

Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Letts said: “There is no such thing as a perfect consultation - there are some extremely passionate residents here who have expressed their opinion and we hope that the fire service will listen and reconsider their proposal for Hightown.”

Independant Southampton City Councillor Keith Morrell, said: “I think the fire service is being placed in a horrendous position and having to make cuts at the behest of the government and they are doing their best to come up with ideas.”

The public consultation lasts until December with the Fire Authority making a final decision on what will be done in February next year.