ROYSTON'S fire-fighters have sent a letter to Herts county councillors urging them to reject proposals to axe five jobs at Royston fire station. The letter has been circulated days before members decide whether to approve plans to cut five of the 12 full-

ROYSTON'S fire-fighters have sent a letter to Herts county councillors urging them to reject proposals to axe five jobs at Royston fire station. The letter has been circulated days before members decide whether to approve plans to cut five of the 12 full-time fire-fighters. The letter criticises the proposals, saying they will "alienate a large section of the people we are supposed to protect". It warns councillors: "If this plan is implemented we will have allowed penny-pinching bureaucracy to hijack a great opportunity for the Herts Fire and Rescue Service to really modernise. "Instead of actually re-locating our resources to best effect, we have just utilised the minimum possible principles of the plan to railroad through poorly thought out cuts." It continues: "With a decision as vital as this we feel we do not deserve our professional opinion to be brushed aside by a few individuals with an agenda that is not in the best interests of the fire service of the people of Herts." The decision on whether to approve the cuts will be made at a meeting of Herts County Council at County Hall on Tuesday. At 9am on Tuesday, a number of cars will be meeting at the Royston Town Hall car park to take residents who wish to oppose the cuts to County Hall. This has been organised by campaigner Terry Hutt, who collected more than 7,000 signatures against the cuts. If you require transport, call Mr Hutt on 07891579564.