FIREFIGHTERS have expressed dismay that a vehicle used at serious road crashes is being removed from Taunton Fire Station.

Gideon Amos, LibDem candidate at the General Election in Taunton Deane, met fire crews to discuss the loss of the town’s only specialist rescue tender.

Mr Amos said: “I’ve seen the wealth of equipment rescue tender V61R1 is packed with, from dinghies, to winches, platforms and cutting equipment. It carries the most up-to-date emergency equipment to cope with every rescue scenario whether caused by flood, fire or vehicle collision.

“Taking this away from Taunton Deane with no replacement is cost-cutting gone mad and will be the first time the Taunton stretch of the M5 has been left without a specialist rescue tender on call.”

It is understood the Taunton and Yeovil rescue tenders are being relocated to stations in Devon or Glastonbury, most of which are staffed by part-time crews.

Mr Amos said they may not be able to muster the numbers to staff the appliance in addition to their existing engines.

A Fire Brigades Union representative said: “We’re seriously worried response times to attend major road traffic accidents will be severely lengthened when our emergency rescue appliance is removed from Taunton.

“Our fire fighters are professionally trained and experienced in its use and need the appliance to do the job. Losing the vehicle will mean a loss of training, skills and experience.

“The cuts to this service in Somerset look like asset stripping.”

County councillor Simon Coles, who sits on the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Authority, said: “People in public service, especially those risking their lives, should be supported by the Government.

“They don’t deserve to have their best equipment taken away.”

A Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: “The service is making a significant investment in Somerset by upgrading the road traffic collision equipment at seven fire stations.

“As a result, the rescue tenders at Taunton and Yeovil are going to be used at a different level of incident and are being relocated to form a more efficient distribution across Devon and Somerset.”