Firemen's fury at job losses

DEDICATED part-time firemen reacted angrily this week when they heard they will lose their jobs as Penryn fire station closes its doors for the last time at the end of March.

Ninety day notices have been given to the firemen whose station will close officially on March 31. All were under the impression they would be transferred to Falmouth. But that will not be the case.

The fire office which the late David Hocking fought hard to retail will be no more. All calls will be dealt with at Falmouth where there are full time watches and a retained unit.

Official closure date is March 31 but if the new bypass is not open by then, the station will remain open until it does.

The Retained Fireman's Union are furious. Spokesman Mr Alan Rowe said: "It is a very bleak outlook from our point of view having been promised by the chief fire officer that the men would go to Falmouth."

He sad that when it was decided to close Penryn fire station it was on the understanding that all staff would go to Falmouth. "Now they are wingeing," said Mr Rowe.

There were nine personnel at the station. Three had made it clear they will retire after the closure.

One had been a retained fireman for 33 years and others had put in long service as well.

Of the six wanting to continue their service only four would be allowed to.

"Why should two people lose their jobs," said Mr Rowe. "Men with 11, 12, 21 or 30 years service. To be a retained fireman you must be special. You have to drop everything you are doing at a moment's notice."

Villagers fear the travellers' threat

UNLESS county council officials respond to demands by residents of Ponsanooth over the travellers' issue within a month they can expect a delegation at their office doors on February 15.

For more than two years villagers have put up with travellers on their door step in a county council highways depot.

Now there are more than 25 vehicles in the depot lay-by. Residents have been threatened, and there are real fears over health problems.

Members of St Gluvias parish council said they were fed up with the attitude of social services director Nigel Druce and gipsy officer David Morgan who had taken no action whatsoever despite pleas by the residents of the village.

They would give them a month to reply to their latest request or turn up in force and demand a meeting.

"It is the only way," they said.

Sacked teacher to be reinstated

A FALMOUTH school teacher sacked after pupil numbers fell at her school, but who felt she had been picked on after a seven-year relationship with her headmaster, is to be reinstated.

Mrs Liz Thomas is to be given her job back at Kennall Vale School from next week, the job she lost at the old St Gluvias School when one of the two teachers other than head Patrick Haughton had to go.

Mr Andy Morgan, assistant secretary for education, confirmed the reinstatement this week.

Last year an industrial tribunal ruled unfair dismissal. Another went for reinstatement and a third was scheduled for last week.

"An industrial tribunal was to have been held but agreement was agreed and she is to be reinstated," he said.

Head Mr Haughton said the school was complying by a ruling of the tribunal. "All I can say is the interests of the school are paramount. We shall approach it positively," he said. "It is something we have been ordered to do and we shall make sure it works."