COUNCIL leaders have been accused of "silencing" a debate on expected cuts to frontline fire services.

Opposition councillors on Richmondshire District Council - including former leader John Blackie, Stuart Parsons and Helen Grant - say they have been denied the chance to question members of the North Yorkshire Fire Authority and the Fire Brigade Union over the proposed cuts.

However, a council spokeswoman said it had not yet received any proposals for changes to the delivery of fire and rescue services in Richmondshire – but that the Fire Authority is due to meet this week to discuss potential changes.

Cllr Blackie said he believed the proposed cuts included full-time fire-fighters; response times at some fire stations to be extended to an hour; and fire-fighting equipment to be significantly reduced.

Cllr Parsons said: “It is evident that the Fire Authority is being asked to rubber stamp cuts without any detailed explanation of just how or where the cuts would be implemented.

“There are very real concerns over the process and the knock-on effects for Richmondshire, and rumours are circulating that Richmond and possibly Leyburn services could be under threat.

“It is vital that the Fire Authority does not make a decision without understanding the very real impact of the proposals but to date they are not being given any details at all.”

Cllr Blackie said he felt the concerns were being silenced.

“Surely we should have to debate the proposals at full council – we don’t know what the details are yet but we will do by the next full council meeting in July.”

Cllr Grant said she was extremely concerned and hoped the council’s scrutiny committee would examine the proposed cuts in detail.

Council leader Yvonne Peacock said during an upcoming consultation, members of the district council will scrutinise the proposals and report its findings to full council.

“I will be meeting with the chairman of the Fire Authority in July and my door is open should the union representative also want to talk to me.

“However we are completely in the dark about any cuts in services and until we have some concrete proposals on the table it would be wrong to comment – or indeed scare the residents of the district into thinking the service may be slashed and lead to long delays in response times.

“Once we have proposals on the table we will scrutinise them in detail and as always look to what is best to safeguard the district.”