Humberside Fire Authority has postponed its decision on fire station closures for three months. They also criticised the firefighters and their representatives, accusing them scaremongering. My interpretation; they intend to close the stations and sack firefighters but can't say so in this hostile climate. Protests often fizzle out when little is seen to be happening one way or another. Keep delaying the decision till a hard core of opponents remain, then label them as luddites. It often works.