Atherstone Fire Station Public Meeting

Dan Byles, Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for North Warwickshire & Bedworth, last night (September 29th 2009) attended the first public meeting being held to discuss controversial proposals which could see up to seven fire stations closing across Warwickshire.

The meeting was chaired by County Councillor Colin Hayfield, and also present were County Councillor and Portfolio Holder Richard Hobbes, and both the Chief Fire Officer (Paul Fuller) and Deputy Chief Fire Officer (Glen Ranger) for Warwickshire.

Further meetings to be held
Public meetings will be held across Warwickshire over the coming weeks as part of a public consultation period for proposals put to the County Council from the Chief Fire Officer Paul Fuller. Mr Fuller is proposing a radical shake up of the Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service in order the modernise the Service and to free up resources to spend on additional traning and equipment.

The proposal are controversial however, and could result in a number of fire stations being closed or moved, and a reduction in the number of retained fire fighters.

Small Turnout
As the first meeting to be held, the Atherstone meeting was not well attended with approx 35 local people turning up. Disappointed with Attendance Speaking after the event, Dan Byles had this to say:

It was disappointing not to see more people at the meeting, but I recognise that the plans for Atherstone are not as controversial as the plans are for some other parts on the county – specifically Bedworth.

I deeply concerned about the potential for Bedworth to lose its fire station as a result of these proposals, so I was very interested to hear what the Chief Fire Officer had to say. I was particularly heartened at his confirmation that the public consultation is a genuine consultation, and that people’s concerns and ideas will be listended to seriously.

Appeal for more interest

I am appealing to everybody not to be complacent, but to read up on what these proposals will mean for you your neighbourhood and to take part in the consultation.

The deadline to have your say in 8 Dec 2009, and the address to write to is: Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service, Improvement Plan Consultation, Service Headquarters, Warwick Street, Leamington Spa, CV32 5LH

Remember – it’s your Fire Service. If you don’t take an interest in it, who will?

MP claims secret plan

MP for North Warwickshire Mike O’Brien has added his views to the controversy. He said

Fire crews say they have been told that though it will be presented as a consultation but it’s going to happen because the Conservatives who control the Council are determined to push it through, this is the fourth attempt by the County Council to close Bedworth Fire Station and reduce cover in North Warwickshire. They dropped the last at tempt eighteen months ago. Previous attempts were fiercely opposed by me and local Labour Councillors, with petitions being signed by hundreds of local people opposing the cuts. There was speculation that if the Conservatives increased their hold on the Council in last May’s election that they would quickly return to making cuts in fire cover. My phone has been burning off the hook with angry firefighters telling me how dangerous these cuts would be. Local people have also being picking up ru mours and are very worried. It seems Bedworth is slated to close, Atherstone Fire Station will lose a fire crew and Coleshill will lose a fire crew. Suggestions that Nuneaton will also close and that a new station will be built out side the town at the Bermuda Business Park appear to be an aspiration rather than a serious plan.

He further claimed that The Conservatives have planned their cuts in cover in secrecy and the final details are yet to be revealed but Firefighters have told the MP that it is likely to involve the loss of one Fire Engine at Atherstone leaving one remaining; one Fire Engine to go at Coleshill together with up to 14 Retained Firefighters going, leaving one fire engine; but the biggest cuts will be in Bedworth.