THE row over plans to shut Parkhead fire station in Glasgow's East End has been taken to the Scottish Parliament.
THE row over plans to shut Parkhead fire station in Glasgow's East End has been taken to the Scottish Parliament.
One MSP fears it could put lives at risk and has tabled a motion expressing concern, while another is urging the Government to intervene to stop the closure.
Nationalist MSP Sandra White says people living in Shettleston, Tollcross, Haghill, Dalmarnock, Riddrie, Carntyne and Mount Vernon will all be affected if Strathclyde Fire and Rescue goes ahead with its proposal.
Barlinnie Prison, Celtic Park and the new Commonwealth Games village at Dalmarnock are all in the area, but under Brian Sweeney's plans they would have to rely on emergency services coming from Cambuslang.
The Strathclyde Fire and Rescue chief officer intends to close Parkhead and Cambuslang fire stations and build a £5million replacement at Clydesmill Industrial Estate - the site of a new £30m training centre for emergency services in Cambuslang.
The new station would be more than two miles from the existing building in Parkhead and Ms White says that means lengthier response times, leading to an increased risk of deaths and injuries.
She said: "Parkhead fire station covers some of the poorest communities in the United Kingdom and research shows the main causes of fires are related to social and economic problems.
"Parts of this area are badly affected by drug and alcohol abuse problems, as well as poverty and high unemployment. I believe management's proposals will be detrimental to these communities."
LibDems' MSP Robert Brown has asked the Government if it has the power to intervene and whether it will do so.
He was also concerned about the longer distances and the additional problems posed by the increasing number of newly-built properties in the area, including the Commonwealth Games village.
The combined station would have 48 firefighters and two appliances, against the current total of 68 firefighters and three appliances.
Mr Brown said: "What is at stake is public safety and I am concerned about the reduction in the number of fire engines.
"There are a lot of tenements in the East End and, notoriously, they are subject to more fires than other properties.
"I am certainly not saying you can never close a fire station, but the reduction in provision and the greater distances involved needs more justification than there has been."
The Libdems have an online petition at: http://campaigns.libdems.org.uk/saveparkheadfire
A Fire and Rescue spokesman said: "Both areas will still be well served. The new station is well within the required response times."
