THE county’s fire service will start charging a fee to rescue people trapped in lifts as it bids to claw back costs.

Building owners will have to pay Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service for any lift rescues unless it is the first call out.

Firefighters attend about 90 lift rescues each year across the two counties. In 2009 lift rescues were made at 62 different addresses.

It is estimated the service would make £14,000 if it charged for all lift rescues in a year but only £4,000 if making no charge for the first call out.

Speaking at a fire authority meeting yesterday, county councillor Richard Udall strongly opposed the idea.

Coun Udall, who represents Worcester St John’s – where there are three high rise blocks of flats – said public safety will be put at risk.

He said: “If the landowners decide not to call the fire service because they are scared of a charge, it will be members of the public stuck in the lift who will be in distress. The owners might try to attempt a rescue themselves which means people will be stuck in the lift for longer. It is unfair to the public who we are supposed to be protecting.”

Councillor Derek Prodger continued on page 2 raised concerns about charging hospitals but Chief Fire Officer Mark Yates said 40 of the 62 addresses attended last year were hospitals. Mr Yates said hospitals employed private companies for lift maintenance which can pay the charges.

Councillor Fran Oborski said it was “perfectly reasonable” to charge repeat offenders.

Authority members voted 10 in favour of the charges, two against with four abstentions.

The service will also start charging the Environment Agency when assisting with fuel and chemical spillages which could bring in up to £30,000 a year. The EA can recover clear up costs from polluters.

Charges had also been suggested for large animal rescues which cost the service about £35,000 a year. This was voted against on the grounds it can be difficult to establish animal ownership and cause unnecessary suffering if the owner wont pay.

BLOB: Your Worcester News was the only member of the media to attend the meeting.

Government grant settlement The fire service has had its grant from the Government cut by 2.4 per cent for 2011/12 compared to a 6.7 per cent cut nationally.

Chief Fire Officer said the settlement was “relatively good” but doesn’t make up for the past seven years when the service has been given the lowest amount nationally per head of the population. Wiltshire has taken over from Hereford and Worcester as the lowest.

Finance Director, Martin Reohorn said the government grant will increase by 1.7 per cent in 2012/13 but is then expected to decrease the following two years.

He said: “Whilst the provisional grant settlement is better than anticipated it is important to note the financial challenges continue to be significant.”

For 2010/11 the grant is £10.6 million - 34 per cent of the £31.3 budget - with £20.7 million coming from council tax.

By 2014/15 it is expected cash from government will be £9.3 million - 31 per cent of a £29.5 million budget.

The fire authority has already identified savings of £140,000 by reducing the number of officer posts over the next two years.

There will also be a staff pay freeze for 2010/11 and 20/12 followed by a one per cent increase thereafter.

After 2010/11 the authority may increase council tax by 2.5 per cent which equates to and extra £1.84 a year per Band D tax payer.