So 350 People, On A Saturday Afternoon, Is The Measure Of Islander Fire Cuts Protest

WHILE THE PROTESTERS have reportedly obtained some 3,000 petition signatures, it is difficult to square those reports with the fact that only 350 or so residents took the trouble to turn-up at the public meeting, organised by Essex County Fire & Rescue Service, to discuss their proposals for replacing full-time fire-fighter cover on Canvey with retained, part-time, crews

Three-hundred-and-fifty protesters represent less than one per cent of island residents – and three-thousand petitioners is an equally unimpressive figure given the petition’s circulation and the issue’s media coverage. Nevertheless, the Echo will apparently be providing a two-page spread to reporting the meeting in its traditional newspaper today.

The figures should not come as any surprise. Judging by this Blog’s readers’ letters, the vast majority of island residents are ‘sick to the teeth’ with island politics; childish bickering – and organised protests in general.

And Echo readers, like deano25, are similarly fed-up.

It is not apathy that lies behind the result; but a simmering resentment of being ‘treated like idiots’ by both politicians and the local media. For many, May’s local elections cannot come quickly enough.

‘I really hope that local community leaders can be encouraged to stand in the local Town Council elections,’ says Martin Price. ‘I am really looking forward to getting rid of this rabble so Canvey can regain its dignity.’

‘If the politicians really cared about Canvey they would all stand aside in this year’s Town Council elections,’ says Janice. ‘The CIIP are just plain old rabble rousers who have done nothing but damage our community and divide its residents.’

‘All politicians are the same,’ says Rabbit, ‘They are only interested in lining their own pockets. God help us if we re-elect this lot for another four years to keep wasting our money.’

‘Same old protests,’ says Jill. ‘Same old bloody faces. Don’t they have any jobs to go to?’

It is now almost certain that the proposed changes will go ahead. Canvey island’s two fire engines will be manned by two retained crews – rather than one retained and one consisting of full-time fire-fighters.

If Essex County Fire & Rescue Service is right: the station’s response time may well increase by two minutes.

Many would say this is an acceptable price to pay in the face of £10 million worth of sustained County cuts – and those that would not, have, in any case, been unable to offer a viable alternative suggestion.

Islanders are quickly coming to the conclusion that it is easy to organise emotional protests; but far more difficult to bring about any change. Particularly when protesters are incapable of presenting an alternative solution.

And those alternative solutions, of course, are what we pay our Councillors to produce on our behalves…

… (The Echo, 2/02/2011) – Dave Blackwell: I was silenced at Fire Cuts meeting

… (The Enquirer, 2/02/2011) – Bosses blasted over fire cuts on Canvey

… (The Echo, 09/02/2011) – Fire Authority votes to cut Canvey fire cover