TRADE union representatives have branded cuts to the number of firefighter jobs at HM Naval Base Clyde "an accident waiting to happen".

Private firm Capita - which took over the contract for fire and rescue services at the home of the UK's naval fleet last year - has pressed ahead with the move to slash eight positions at Faslane and Coulport.

The Advertiser first reported on the controversial plans in March and condemnation soon followed from Helensburgh's MP, Brendan O'Hara, and his West Dunbartonshire colleague Martin Docherty-Hughes, with the pair writing an open letter to defence secretary Ben Wallace urging a rethink.

It is understood that Capita are set to seek local authority support from nearby fire stations in an effort to 'back fill' the specialist safety response - which has been reduced in strength by 15 per cent - despite these fire crews lacking the specialist training required at the naval bases.

Unite says the cuts will "seriously impair the abilities of the on-site fire crews to do their jobs properly", and strike action will now be pursued.

READ MORE: Firefighters 'up for a fight' over Capita plan to slash Faslane and Coulport jobs

Debbie Hutchings, Unite industrial officer, said: “Capita's cuts are an accident waiting to happen, make no mistake about that, and it is not scaremongering on our part.

"This private company is effectively jeopardising the safety response capabilities at the Clyde’s nuclear naval bases as part of a cost saving exercise.

"We really have to ask ourselves whether this country is content to leave the nation's fire response capabilities to a company hell bent on saving money through cuts which compromises safety.

"This is not about the initial attack team dealing with small fires as Capita are claiming but the overall safety on the Clyde not only for the workers but local communities.

"Unite’s members on the Clyde have voiced their despair over the job cuts through a consultative ballot and we now intend to move forward with an industrial action ballot in order to bring Capita back to its senses, which it seems to have completely lost.”

READ MORE: Firefighter cuts at naval base would 'risk public safety', say MPs

Capita have stated they intend to mitigate any potential safety risks stemming from the cuts through an "investment in new technology", however Unite bosses claim that both naval base stations have not received any new fire vehicles, nor has Capita revealed the details of the promised new technology and new training ahead of the job cuts, despite repeated attempts by Unite for clarity.

Capita insisted that no additional responsibility was being placed on the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS).

A spokesman for the outsourcing company said: “We have conducted a thorough review of fire risks at Faslane and Coulport with input from all relevant MoD stakeholders. This included consultation with the SFRS and accounted for our investment in new technology to reduce fire risk.

“The review’s recommendation to adjust resourcing levels at both sites was ultimately approved by the MoD.

"This followed a lengthy process of scrutiny and four successful validatory exercises by our on-site fire station teams, which confirmed our recommendations to be suitable and sufficient.

"We are committed to the delivery of better fire risk outcomes for the Ministry of Defence, its personnel, and our firefighters.”