River Clyde 24-hour rescue service set to end due to budget cuts

Firefighters in Glasgow are demonstrating against budget cuts which would see the River Clyde’s only permanently crewed rescue boat end its 24-hour coverage.

Members of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) gathered at the Clyde Arch or ‘Squinty’ Bridge to raise awareness of the importance of the service which saved more than 20 lives in the past 12 months.

The crew is currently based at Polmadie Fire Station, but the cuts would see its staff shared across other services meaning it could no longer run a continuously.

The FBU’s executive council member, Colin Brown, said: “Cutting the Clyde’s only permanent river rescue crew will unquestionably put the lives of Glaswegians and visitors to the city at risk and the plans must be halted immediately.”

He warned of the risk of life the cuts present, adding: “The message from Firefighters and the public is clear - ‘Cuts Leave Scars’ and the Scottish Government and Scottish Fire and Rescue must immediately look again at their plans to slash lifesaving services such as Polmadie’s River Rescue Crew.”

The union is calling on the Holyrood to halt the cuts and keep services running as normal.

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is a vital service which is why, despite difficult financial circumstances due to UK Government austerity, we are providing it with more than £368 million this year, an increase of £14.4 million on 2023/23.

“We are also maintaining front-line services, with a higher number of firefighters in Scotland than other parts of the UK and firefighters recently accepted an improved pay offer.”

It comes as three other unions are staging their own demonstrations across the city over budget cuts in Glasgow museums.

The lack of funding could see 37 jobs lost, and Unite, UNISON, and the GMB have described the plans as “devastating”.

Union members gathered outside the Burrell Collection, which was recently named the 2023 Art Fund Museum of the Year, and will gather again outside the Gallery of Modern Art- currently hosting the Banksy exhibition- in August.

UNISON believes the cuts will “result in a loss of skills, knowledge, creativity and essential care” of Glasgow’s museums, leading to “diminished public experience, empty exhibition spaces and stagnant galleries”.

Glasgow Life previously said collections will receive “careful and considered care” and savings are being made by “reducing, rather than losing” services.

A spokesperson added: “Glasgow’s museums and collections receive careful and considered care and this is going to continue. The savings Glasgow Life is making this year add up to around 9% of the annual service fee the charity receives from Glasgow City Council and ensure we will not have to close any venues.”

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• River Clyde