Councillors see red over call-out charges

April 1994

HEFTY fire call-out charges imposed by the local authority could make some householders reluctant to call the brigade in times of emergency, it was claimed this week.

The call-out charges were condemned by a number of members at the March housing meeting of Bray Urban Council, with Cllr John McManus describing the fee as ‘yet another additional levy on ordinary people’.

And although assistant county manager Eddie Breen told the meeting that the cost of the callout was covered in most cases under the home insurance policy on the property, Cllr McManu said that the charge would ultimately come back to the householder in increased insurance premia.

‘ It’s wrong to assume that it’s only the insurance company who will pay in these cases, because the fact is that in the end of the day, the policy holder will be required to foot the bill.’

Cllr Brigid Hanon warned that call-out charges of £200 and £300 were simply too much for ordinary people to afford, and said she was aware of one instance where a local woman who had her car burned out by vandals had been hit for a bill for more than £200 from the council.

‘I can easily foresee a situation where people will be reluctant to call out the brigade against their better judgement.’