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15/02/2005
MoD test water for Green Goddess sell off
The Government has announced plans to sell 40 of the Ministery of Defence's fleet of Green Goddess fire engines.
Fire and Rescue Service Minister, Nick Raynsford, said that the engines were now surplus to requirements. The engines, part of 1,000-vehicle fleet, were most recently used to provide emergency fire cover during the fire service dispute in 2002-2003. The Green Goddesses had provided contingency cover in emergencies since the 1950s, most notably during the recent fire fighters strike and the one in 1977. They have also been used to help pump water during floods and droughts.
The decision to sell the engines is part of an ongoing review of current contingency arrangements. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will now consider the future of the rest of the Green Goddess fleet, having built into its contingency planning, the availability of modern fire appliances from Fire and Rescue Authorities.
The sale, which is being conducted by Witham, a Lincolnshire-based company, specialising in the sale of vehicles of this type, on behalf of the Ministry of Defence Disposal Services Agency, begins on February 21. Museums, specialist vehicle enthusiasts and countries overseas are expected to be among the most likely buyers.
Commenting on the sale, Mr Raynsford said: "The Green Goddess fleet has served us well in emergencies, but with now being able to use modern fire appliances as part of our contingency planning arrangements, we are looking at its future. The sale of these 40 vehicles is part of this process and is essentially to test the market. No decisions have yet been made on the remaining fleet, though we are looking at all options. This is all about making the public safer and delivering on our commitment to modernise the Fire and Rescue Service."
(KMcA/SP)
Fire and Rescue Service Minister, Nick Raynsford, said that the engines were now surplus to requirements. The engines, part of 1,000-vehicle fleet, were most recently used to provide emergency fire cover during the fire service dispute in 2002-2003. The Green Goddesses had provided contingency cover in emergencies since the 1950s, most notably during the recent fire fighters strike and the one in 1977. They have also been used to help pump water during floods and droughts.
The decision to sell the engines is part of an ongoing review of current contingency arrangements. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will now consider the future of the rest of the Green Goddess fleet, having built into its contingency planning, the availability of modern fire appliances from Fire and Rescue Authorities.
The sale, which is being conducted by Witham, a Lincolnshire-based company, specialising in the sale of vehicles of this type, on behalf of the Ministry of Defence Disposal Services Agency, begins on February 21. Museums, specialist vehicle enthusiasts and countries overseas are expected to be among the most likely buyers.
Commenting on the sale, Mr Raynsford said: "The Green Goddess fleet has served us well in emergencies, but with now being able to use modern fire appliances as part of our contingency planning arrangements, we are looking at its future. The sale of these 40 vehicles is part of this process and is essentially to test the market. No decisions have yet been made on the remaining fleet, though we are looking at all options. This is all about making the public safer and delivering on our commitment to modernise the Fire and Rescue Service."
(KMcA/SP)
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