THERE are renewed hopes that a solution may at last be found to put an end to the Greater Manchester firefighters dispute.

The Local Government Association Fire Forum is to meet in a fortnight, says County Fire Officer George Almond.

He said: "This follows a series of regional meetings to consider their position over the national dispute about Fire Service conditions of service.

"Although this meeting had been planned since July, there is speculation about what might happen when they meet.

"There are strong rumours about possible devleopments in relation to the national dispute."

Mr Almond added: "I would welcome any positive developments which might occur to break the national deadlock, which in turn might be of assistance in enabling us to resolve our own local dispute about the divisional review.

"It has always been our wish to resolve this issue locally and that remains our position."

The Greater Manchester branch of the Fire Brigades Union called for a ballot for possible industrial action over the dispute.

They are concerned at the implications of brigade restructuring and the threat to national conditions of service should negotations normally handled on a nationwide basis be dealt with locally.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.