The Chief Fire Officer for East Sussex and Brighton and Hove will answer questions from members of the public tonight in Brighton.

The meeting will be held at The Brighthelm Centre on North Road from 7.30pm, where Des Pritchard, chief fire officer for East Sussex and Brighton and Hove, will answer questions on how planned cuts to the service will impact the general public.

The planned cuts involve removing one of Brighton’s fire engines from the service, leaving just four engines covering the Brighton and Hove area.

These plans have faced widespread criticism from local politicians and the Fire Brigade Union.

The Fire Brigade Union (FBU) has launched its ‘We Urge the Fire Authority to listen and vote to protect the City Fire Engine’ petition, which has had more than 10,000 signatures over the last month.

Nancy Platts, Labour Parliamentary candidate for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, has pledged to support the FBU’s petition and will be at the meeting tonight to question Mr Pritchard over the planned cuts.

Ms Platts has also criticised Mr Pritchard for failing to inform the public about the planned cuts and how they will affect the service.

Other local MPs such as Caroline Lucas, Simon Kirby and Mike Weatherly have also backed the FBU petition To sign the FBU petition, visit www.saveeastsussexfireservice.co.uk.