Flooding has cost Essex Fire and Rescue Service around £70,000 in the year 2000 and there is no mechanism for them to recover the outlay.

Since the reorganisation of local government, creating the Essex Fire Authority and taking the service out of direct county control, fire chiefs may no longer apply for additional funding under the Bellwin Scheme.

Now Essex has joined other fire authorities in pressing the local government association to seek changes in the regulations to help pay for such incidents in the future, says eastern divisional officer Don Fossett.

There are also moves to obtain proper funding for the 'rescue' side of service work in general. Road accidents, industrial and other incidents often outnumber fires attended but funding remains mainly based on payments for fire cover as it has since the Fire Service Act of 1947.

"We are hopeful that some changes are on the way in the fairly near future," said Mr Fossett.

The government has given the fire service in Essex its best settlement for some years - 7.26 per cent it was announced last week. The service also has its highest number of operational staff totalling 929.

By Peter Baker

Reporter's e-mail: peter.baker@essex-chronicle.co.uk

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