Very Important so please read Now

These may not be your actual car cleaners on Saturday

Well before we get to the really important bit, I regret to inform you that just like on ITV, you are going to have to sit through a couple of adverts before you get to the programme you want to watch, or in this case the important piece of information I want to pass onto you.

Blaina Fire Station are having an open day this coming Saturday, 12th of October between 9.30am until just after 5pm, where they will be doing  car washes for charity.

They will also be giving members of the public a chance to ask actual firefighters about the job they do and the different types of services they provide in our community, from talking in schools to visiting homes and assisting and advising on fire safety.

I mean be honest, when you are driving and you hear the sound of the siren from a fire engine behind you, fair play, you pull over to let them pass and you might wonder where they are going, you might like me also, utter a little prayer to a God who may or may not be there, that no person is harmed and that none of the boys on the fire truck get injured or worse.

But unless you are married or in a relationship with a firefighter, or they are family members or a friend, do you really know the men who crew the engine who risk their lives for you?  Could you identify them when they walk down the street?

Well for most of us the answer is no, but Saturday gives you a chance to change all that.

Fetch your car up, have it cleaned and meet the boys who risk their all for you and yours.

It's Big. It's shiny and it's ours, and they are not having it

No car to be cleaned?  Then still come up and meet the boys and their lovely admin lady, check out their fire truck, you will be amazed at how big it is up real close and how immaculate it is kept by the crew, who when they leave the station on it, never know whether they will be coming back on it.

Then when you have done that (important bit now), if you have not yet signed the online consultation survey put up by the Fire Service - who have stated that this is the only source they will accept when they consider whether to continue with their plans to close down Blaina Fire Station - you can do so inside the station, or you could even do it now by clicking on this link.

Personally, I think it underhanded on the part of the Fire Service to ignore the thousands of names that have been added to online petitions and the hard copy petitions going around in the local pubs, shops and garages of Blaina.

I also think that, knowing that Blaenau Gwent is one of the worst served areas in Wales for Internet access with something like only 48% of the population being able to fill in an online survey, that a better or alternative way for people to voice their concerns should have been found.

I suppose what you could do is knock on your neighbours door and ask if they have done the survey and if not, you could assist them in doing it on your machine for them.

Look forward to seeing you on Saturday.