I WAS very concerned about the aggressive nature of Councillor John Beesley’s budget speech, at Tuesday night’s full council meeting, when he commented that the Dorset Fire & Rescue Service had very poor financial management.

Having served for eight years as one of Bournemouth’s members on the Dorset Fire Authority I can say that nothing is further from the truth.

The authority has a very rigorous policy of financial control but is charged with preventing fires and the resulting loss of life that can easily occur.

Nothing will detract from members putting the public safety before financial restraints or loyalty to any particular political party.

So poorly was the DF&R Service funded by central government, over many years, that last year we were given special dispensation to increase our precept charge to the council tax across Dorset by £5 per year per household just to bring us closer to the national average for such services.

I can assure the public across Dorset that you have one of the finest fire services in the UK and long may that be the case.

Bournemouth is a major holiday resort, has an ageing population and has large numbers of students within its border and close by conurbation, fire and rescue services have to be a major concern with the best people, best training and best equipment that we can access.

CLLR BARRY GOLDBART, Member of Dorset Fire Authority