CONTROVERSIAL proposals to cut Bolton’s fire service have not been ruled out ­— despite a report revealing that resources were stretched “to the limit” in fighting The Cube blaze.

A report into the fire at the mainly student complex last year revealed that for a short time on the night of November 15 there were just two fire engines left to cover the whole of Greater Manchester.

And following the publication of the findings last week, the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) is calling on Metro Mayor Andy Burnham to reverse the cuts made before the devastating fire broke out in Bradshawgate.

Firefighters tackling the blaze on the night were praised, with their “swift” actions saving many lives and no deaths or serious injuries.

Last spring the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, led by Mr Burnham, put forward proposals to replace two stations in Bolton with one newly built station and cut fire engines, sparking widespread concern.

The plans were put on hold following The Cube fire, but proposals affecting the borough’s fire service have not been dismissed.

When asked if there had been any developments on the proposals, Deputy Mayor Beverley Hughes said:”We paused that part of the programme to see how things developed over the next year or two. I suspect there certainly will be developments there I think Bolton probably needs a new fire station ­— but whether or not we go ahead with the particular proposal or the merger we have yet to see.”

Mr Burnham said he would be writing to the Home Secretary, following the publication of the report, to put a brake on any planned funding cuts.

He said: “The fire stretched the resources of GMFRS to the limit and resulted in the situation where there were very few resources left to cover any other incidents in Greater Manchester.

“This seems to be the moment for us to say to the Government, the reductions in fire funding and the subsequent impact that has on fire cover for our communities ­— those reductions can’t go any further.”

Mr Burnham told The Bolton News: “Those plans were paused on the back of this and other representation. We obviously want to make the case now as part of the Government’s spending review for the best possible settlement for fire and rescue services going forward, and that is what we have started with the letter to the home secretary.”

Leader of Bolton Council Cllr David Greenhalgh called on building regulations to be tightened up after the report revealed the fire did not behave as it should.

He said: “Following the moorland fire and the sheer stress on services, we paused any proposal to take stock and The Cube has added very much to that argument that we need access across the borough maintained and the resource capacity maintained. I think the discussion around resource is one that has to be tackled as well through building regulations and if we get the regulations right that will have a natural impact.

“The sheer spread and speed of that fire was not what should not have happened with a building that had passed all the regulations. It should simply not have been the case, it failed, so there is something completely wrong with the regulations. I watched a walkway melt before my eyes that night and then afterwards when I was asking, it was deemed non-combustible."

Steve Wiswell, FBU Greater Manchester brigade secretary, said:“The Mayor is right to say the report stretched Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service ‘to the very limit’. We welcome his plea to the Home Secretary to finally bring an end to fire cuts. But we should be clear that six fire engines were cut in Greater Manchester just six weeks before the fire due to the Tory government slashing fire funding – and Andy Burnham should have stepped in to stop them."

“They must now be restored for the sake of public safety.”