Councillor Brian Hall made a qualified apology at Thursday's county council meeting for the gaffe made on local radio which upset firefighters in Pembrokeshire.

Cllr Bill Philpin tabled a notice of motion suggesting that the council views with great concern the Fire Brigade's proposals to reduce cover in Pembrokeshire and instructs its members on the Fire Authority to vote against such proposals.

With firefighters' representatives in the public gallery, leader Cllr John Davies said it was a very emotive issue and they had been approached by all sides, including the firefighters' unions.

Cllr Joyce Watson said it was a matter of great concern that Cllr Hall, vice-chairman of the fire authority, had said on local radio that firefighters in Pembrokeshire were not doing as good a job as those in Swansea. She suggested that Cllr Hall should step down as his remarks were clearly inflammatory.

Cllr John Davies said both the full-time and retained firemen in Pembrokeshire did a tremendous job and clarification was needed from Cllr Hall.

Cllr Hall said he had been commenting on the difference in call-outs between fire stations in Swansea and west Wales.

"I intended no criticism whatsoever of the quality or dedication of any of these firefighters. I know a lot of them personally and have tremendous admiration for them and their families. Perhaps I did not make myself as clear as I intended and, if my comments have been misinterpreted I apologise," said Cllr Hall.

THE Fire Brigades' Union's mid and west Wales brigade committee has called for the resignation of Cllr Brian Hall.

"Councillor Hall has finally unfurled the full length of his banner by casting his doubt on the professional capabilities of firefighters at Haverfordwest fire station," said chairman Roger Curran.

"For reasons unknown, he obviously has an axe to grind with firefighters at the station, and so cannot be trusted to make a decision about its future. His ignorant, arrogant and crass comments are an insult to all firefighters and also an insult to the chief fire officer, implying that he is not delivering the same standard of training to all locations in mid and west Wales."

Mr Curran went on: "We also feel that Cllr Gareth Sullivan, chairman of the fire authority, should consider his position, because of his support for Cllr Hall in a blind act of faith. Cllr Sullivan claims, in a letter sent to an FBU representative, that Cllr Hall had 'not knowingly' made the comments."