Allowance rise awarded by Fire Authority
Officials who want to save money by shutting Windsor's fire station at night have voted themselves a massive 400 per cent increase in allowances.
Members of Berkshire Fire Authority awarded themselves the pay hike at the annual meeting on Wednesday, only moments after their county Chief Fire officer Iain Cox rejected a call by campaigner Richard Coates to rethink the night closure plan that opponents say will put lives in Windsor at risk.
Councillors on the Fire Authority will now receive a basic £1,800 a year allowance instead of the previous amount of £412 - not to mention new mileage, subsistence and accommodation allowances if they undertake special duties.
After the meeting a seething Mr Coates said: "Members have voted themselves a rise in their allowances, plus extra travel and accommodation expenses which over the course of a year will be the equivalent of three whole time firemen's salary, enough to keep Windsor station open during the night hours.
"All this extra finance comes out of the fire budget - it is an absolute disgrace."
The rise will fuel anger and resentment in Windsor, where councillors, residents and business people reject Fire Authority's claims that the town could be safely covered from Slough between 8pm-8am.