Morale crushing

Union chief says public safety at risk due to staff and equipment shortage

- CHRIS MCCALL

FIREFIGHTERS are suffering from low morale because of "crushing" budget constraints, the SNP government has been warned.

The Fire Brigades Union is calling on Finance Secretary Shona Robison to commit to "significant" investment in the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service when she (SFRS) announces the Holyrood Budget on January 13.

Colin Brown said the had faced service £84million in real-term cuts since 2013 and response times to emergencies were growing.

The union chief said public safety was being compromised as there are not enough retained firefighters, who work parttime, to crew appliances across Scotland.