MORE than 350 concerned residents packed a highly-charged public meeting to discuss proposals which could see Canvey fire station go from full-time to retained.

The meeting, organised by Essex Fire and Rescue Service, at Smallgains Hall, Creek Road, on Saturday had to be held twice because the hall could only accommodate 170 people at a time.

Many residents fired angry questions at Deputy Chief Fire Officer Gordon Hunter on the training of retained firefighters, the time it would take them to get to an emergency and why Canvey should have a retained crew with two major facilities – the Oikos chamical storage site and Calor Gas – on the island.

The meeting was chaired by Mr Hunter, councillor Tony Hedley, chairman of Essex Fire Authority, and Jon Payne, Community Commander for Basildon and Castle Point.

Mr Hunter said: “There is no part of Essex Fire and Rescue we have not reviewed. We are facing cuts of £10million and it is impossible not to impact on the front line.”

He explained the proposals were drawn up by firefighters with decades of experience using models and statistics which were “challenged and questioned all the way”.

The service is proposing to replace the Long Road station’s 25 firefighters with a part-time crew as part of the cost-cutting programme across the county.

A firefighter at the meeting, who did not want to be named, said: “You should take the rescue out of Essex Fire and Rescue Service.

“With retained crews on Canvey, you will not be rescuing anyone.”

Mr Hunter said after the meeting: “I wouldn’t have expected anything else but this passion from the people of Canvey.

“Canvey is a special case and that is why we are keeping it as a key station and I promise I will maintain that.

“The changes will not put people’s lives on Canvey at risk. We are doing our damnedest to keep the two fire engines at Canvey.”

The consultation ends on February 9.