FOLLOWING Fire Brigades Union leader Andy Gilchrist's visit to Swindon last night our firefighters need to do some serious thinking on a number of vital issues.
Not least of these is their opposition to the combined control centre which will handle calls to all three of the county's 999 services.
Police and ambulance services accept the scheme. But right from stage one of the planning process the firefighters have consistently opposed it. We believe their opposition is now damaging their cause and the centre's prospects of working efficiently.
The firefighters sincerely believe their claim for decent levels of pay and for job security are fair and reasonable and few would deny their courage, even if they disapprove of their programme of strike action.
But with the threat of terrorism and with thousands of defence personnel preparing to risk their lives in a war against Iraq, it is time for compromise.
The combined control centre is no longer just a proposal. It is about to become a reality.
And Wiltshire's firefighters have nothing to gain and perhaps a great deal to lose if they continue to oppose it.
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