CRAIG Hoy, a Conservative MSP for South Scotland, recently met with local firefighter Davey Strachan at an event organised by Pauline McNeill MSP and the Fire Brigades Union to bring issues affecting fire service personnel to the attention of Members of the Scottish Parliament.
Mr Strachan is organiser for the Fire Bridges Union’s East Scotland region. Growing up in Pencaitland, Mr Strachan works at Marionville Fire Station in Edinburgh which responds to fires and flooding across the Lothians and the Scottish Borders.
Following the meeting, Mr Hoy said: “Our fire service is an essential part of the local community, protecting people from flooding, fires and many other problems.
“The service is currently facing major funding challenges and recruitment issues for service controllers, and this has been made more acute with the ongoing cost of living crisis.
“It was good to get some perspective on these challenges from a South of Scotland standpoint.
“The Scottish Government now need to listen to pressing concerns about funding for our fire service which has major repercussions for public safety, and I will be doing my upmost to bring these issues forward in the Scottish Parliament.”
