The North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner should demand more cash from the Home Office - Yorkshire Post Letters

It has been my understanding that the regional Police, Fire and crime commissioners (PFCC) have greater powers than the previous police panels, which were made up of councillors and magistrates.

And one of the reasons why the new PFCCs were formed would be to enable access to more funding for local communities for policing and fire and rescue from the Home Office and scrutinising chief officers spending to justify the increased cost of administration of these two 'blue light' services.

To reduce the number of fire engines by 50 per cent, from two to one fire engine, during the night to protect a population of nearly 163,000 people, plus tourists to this attractive area, and conference delegates, is in my opinion a dangerous road to take (The Yorkshire Post, September 17).

What local knowledge and experience does Zoe Metcalfe, Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, have about Harrogate and district to make such an important decision which affects the safety of residents?

But the Commissioner says residents can be rest assured that the fire and rescue would continue to provide an immediate emergency response, and this is not a cost cutting exercise, but how much will the time be extended to get to the incident?

Operational costs have gone up in all public services, like everywhere else, and this is why Zoe Metcalfe and her colleagues in other regional Police Fire Crime Commissioner should be putting forward strong business plans to the Home Office for more funding for important services for everybody's safeguarding.