FIREFIGHTERS and residents are still being kept in the dark about proposed plans to axe seven fire stations across Warwickshire.
Campaigners are calling for a date to be announced when the results of the consultation on the future of Kenilworth, Warwick, Studley, Bidford, Brinklow, Fenny Compton and Bedworth fire stations will be made.
But until this date has been given, campaigners say they will not give up their fight.
Karen Scarrott, a protester who organised a march in Warwick, said: “They (the council) had put the decision on hold hoping that any point of complacency would set in, but residents are still passionate and I hope in my heart of hearts that all these fire stations are kept open.
“The stations provide a vital service when there’s an emergency, such as a fire or a flood, and we need them to be on our doorstep to react quick enough.
“There is a massive amount of public support, which was evident in the last march we did from Warwick Racecourse to Warwick Market, where 600 people turned up.
“We need to let common sense prevail, we want all the stations saved, not a situation where one might close, because that could cause a snowball effect for others to close.”
Fire chiefs first announced the modernisation plans last September and said it was not a cost-cutting exercise, but one to make services more efficient. But if the stations were to close the Fire Brigades’ Union (FBU) said that about 100 jobs could be lost, and this has left morale low among firefighters.
Marcus Giles, chairman of the Warwickshire branch of the FBU, said: “Everyone has been quite worried because they have been left in limbo for so long.
“We were expecting a decision at some point in January, but now almost five months later, we still don’t know what is happening.
“Morale among the team is low, but they have to carry on with their job. We hope the proposal is changed so all the fire stations remain.”
The FBU said it was also concerned about plans to centralise five regional fire control centres to Wolverhampton, as this could lead to a further 100 job losses.
Chris Downes, regional secretary for the FBU, said: “It is just total uncertainty at the moment, and coupled with a potential move of the regional fire control centre to Wolverhampton, adds to the fear factor.
“The plan was to move five regional offices to Wolverhampton in 2007. But these plans have been delayed time and time again, plus there is a massive overspend on it.
The project started off costing £100 million, but this has quadrupled to around £420 million.
“The whole thing needs to be scrapped, someone needs the gumption to say so.”
A Warwickshire County Council meeting is taking place on June 18 at Shire Hall to discuss a proposal to keep all seven fire stations.
Chris White, new Conservative MP for Leamington and Warwick, is also backing the campaign to save the stations.
He said: “I’m not 100 per cent sure about what is happening, I am meeting with the leader of the county council (Alan Farnell), and chief fire officer Graeme Smith on June 18 to discuss things further.
“I will be putting a very vigorous case forward because there are good reasons to keep the fire stations open.
“In this area we have one of the most united groups of support for this cause from all sorts of levels, such as district and county.
“We have to make sure this consultation is about putting the best case forward, and get these proposals off the table.”
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