THERE is plenty Cllr Rodney Rose can do (May 3) to help Oxfordshire’s fire fighters.

The Tory-run county council can tell the Coalition Government to resolve the dispute. Councillor Rose can promise not to sack older fire and rescue workers if they become unfit.

The county council can lobby the Tory/Lib Dem Government not to increase pension payments. Councillor Rose can come and support the firefighters on the picket line. Firefighters should not be forced to carry on climbing ladders until they are 60.

The Tories are happy to praise our brave firefighters when they are battling fires, untangling motorway pile-ups and coping with dangerous chemical spills. However, when it comes to paying decent wages and proper pensions, there is a deafening silence.

Every time there is a strike, it costs Oxfordshire taxpayers thousands of pounds to pay retained firefighters to cover the gap. Nobody wants to go out on strike; least of all our firefighters.

But they were forced into three days of action recently because the Government won’t negotiate. The treatment of our firefighters is a national disgrace. Councillor Rose and his county council chums should say so loud and clear.

Cllr JOHN TANNER, Labour spokesperson on the Fire and Rescue Service, city councillor for Littlemore and County Councillor for Isis Sunningwell Road Oxford