A tenth of Essex firefighters could lose their jobs if proposed changes to the service go ahead, the Fire Brigade Union has claimed.

Up to 100 members of the union turned up to lobby the Fire Authority at yesterday morning’s meeting at County Hall, Chelmsford.

Armed with placards, banners and fog horns, the firefighters hoped to demonstrate the strong opposition within the uniformed section to the Integrated Risk Management Plan.

The plan has been drawn up by top officers within Essex County Fire and Rescue Service to deal with the changing risks affecting the county.

Only a handful of firefighters were allowed inside the room, but dozens filled the corridor, with many more spreading across the pavement outside.

After an hour’s discussion, authority members voted by a clear majority in favour of accepting the plan, but on the condition that the chairman of the authority would have a scrutiny role in any decisions.

Speaking after the meeting, Fire Brigade Union chairman Nick Mayes, said: “We could be talking about up to 108 jobs lost.

“We want details which they have now said they will give to us, then we will start to make ripples about the number of jobs.

“Right now this is the worst case scenario, without any detail we’ve had to assume the worst.”

Mr Mayes claimed the jobs would be lost from fire stations themselves.

There are currently 965 firefighters employed by Essex County Fire and Rescue Service.

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