A SCHOOL boy has joined the Wilmslow firefighters’ campaign as the fight to prevent fire cuts heats up.

Fifteen year old Max Eden, from Wilmslow, has been helping fire crews in their battle to keep the Altrincham Road station fully-staffed 24-hours-a-day by trying to get as many residents as possible to sign a petition.

Max, who lives in Chapel Lane, and single handedly launched a campaign to save Wilmslow’s Fulshaw Post Office last year, has been dedicating his time to drumming up support for the town’s firemen and securing signatures before fire chiefs make a decision on the proposed changes on March 11.

The teenager says he is concerned at the proposals to downgrade fire cover at Wilmslow Fire Station and is keen to register his objections.

He said: "I am concerned at the amount of time it will take for fire crews to attend if the changes go ahead.

"It seems that response times will inevitably increase between three and six minutes and that is just not good enough."

Residents can sign the petition in one of four locations across Wilmslow which are The Flower Shop on Water Lane, in Wilmslow, The County hotel, in Alderley Edge, Joe Royles Bike Shop on Knutsford Road, Wilmslow and Theo’s Fish and Chip Shop in Wilmslow.

In the meantime union leaders and fire crews have continued to leaflet households in Wilmslow and have been speaking to residents to get their views on the proposals.

A Fire Brigade Union (FBU) spokesman said: "Following last week’s fire in Wilmslow I would call on residents to look at the video link providing footage of the incident. This shows how quickly the fire can develop and potentially spread to neighbouring properties. And it does not require a great imagination to visualise the impact that the proposed delayed night time turn out would have.

"The FBU believe that if the proposals are approved they not only compromise safety of firefighters and residents they also raise the likelihood of significant collateral property loss.

"We have actively campaigned against the cuts and most of the households in Wilmslow, Alderley and Handforth should by now have received a leaflet detailing the plans for cover in Wilmslow.

"If residents object to the cuts I would urge them to attend one of the four locations and sign the petition before March 11. We have done all we can and it is down to the residents of the town now."

Recommendations are for the present permanent crew to be replaced at night by retained staff operating from home.

Instead firefighters would provide 12 hour day cover only, with part-time or retained officers on call for emergencies at night who will respond to fire calls from their homes on a pager system.

Firefighters and union leaders say the changes will increase response times by more than five minutes are concerned about the risk to the public.

For more information visit www.cheshirefire.gov.uk .