IN VIEW of the recently-revealed expenditure of the colossal sum of £500,000 on "public relations and communications" by Staffordshire Fire and Rescue service, I – and no doubt most of your readers – would be deeply grateful if the persons largely responsible, namely Media Manager Heather Challinor and her ardent supporter Councillor John Davis, could explain to we ignorant members of the public the precise need for the activities of her organisation, as defined by her. These are, apparently:

"Media relations". Cannot almost any fire service member use a phone, write a letter or send an email ? No doubt The Sentinel would be happy to provide advice or assistance in this area.

"Marketing campaigns". What on earth does a fire and rescue service have to "market"? Are they selling off old fire engines, or souvenir firemen's badges?

"Consultation and engagement". I must confess that I am not entirely sure of the meaning of this piece of psycho-babble. What does it accomplish that cannot be achieved by a responsible member of fire service staff picking up a phone and arranging a meeting?

"Internal communications". Do staff no longer speak to one another ? Do they not have pens, paper, phones, computers etc? Why do we need a special department to arrange "communications"?

"Events". I assume this means such things as open days and other "involve the public" activities. I believe that in the past, these were organised by staff members and volunteers – what has changed?

"Website". I concede that in this day and age, almost every organisation needs to establish a website. However, could this not be handled by existing staff? Or, if not, dealt with by one-off contracts with external consultants as and when required, at far less cost?

Everyone involved seems to have lost sight of the quite simple fundamental duties of a fire and rescue service; namely, to deal with fires and similar disasters and to rescue people.

We all know what the service does. we all know how to call for help and we all know what a superb job is done under very trying circumstances.

If Ms Challinor and her entire department were to vanish into thin air, would anyone seriously suggest that there would be fewer, or any slower, responses to calls? Or any fewer individuals rescued?

The £500,000 that could thus be saved would be far more beneficially employed if used to roll back the scandalous staff reductions and fire station closures and amalgamations recently announced.

MARK GUNSTON

Westlands