WORCESTERSHIRE MPs have written to Fire Authority chairman Derek Prodger calling for a re-think on plans to re-configure front line fire services across the county.
The MPs attended a briefing by Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chief Fire Officer Mark Yates and have been having one-to-one briefings with senior officers over the last few weeks.
And the county MPs agreed to write together to urge the Fire Authority to re-think the strategy which threatens to weaken the fire services ability to deal with major incidents and provide standard levels of cover.
They agreed to the Secretary of State Eric Pickles asking for an improved grant settlement. Alongside this pledge the MPs urged the authority to look at finding cost-efficiencies without affecting frontline services.
Mark Garnier MP for Wyre Forest said: “The threat of closure to fire stations across the county is worrying, as is any potential impact on front line services. In Wyre Forest, we face losing either one retained appliance in Kidderminster, or the closure of Bewdley fire station altogether.
The safety of Worcestershire residents is of the upmost importance and that is why we have written to Derek Prodger to urge him to rethink the plans that have been made. I feel strongly that the risks posed by both low levels of funding and minimum levels of resources are unacceptable, which is why we are pushing for further government funding for HWFA and a rethink on the proposals.”