The four fire stations in Wiltshire facing closure

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) says that shutting the hubs will leave communities without adequate protection from fires, flooding and other life-threatening emergencies.  

Fire stations at Ramsbury, Bradford on Avon, Wilton, and Mere they say face the axe, following Dorset & Wiltshire Fire & Rescue admitting it is tackling "significant financial challenges."

The FBU says it’s putting members on an ‘industrial footing’ to defend services against cuts across the UK. 

Four stations in Dorset - at Cranborne, Hamworthy, Maiden Newton, and Charmouth - are also earmarked for closure.

Firefighters in Oxfordshire are moving towards industrial action in response to cuts threatened by the county council, while cuts have been averted in Avon and Leicestershire following FBU campaigns. 

Barney Hedgecock, FBU fairness at work rep for Dorset and Wiltshire said: “Dorset and Wiltshire fire and rescue service is already severely overstretched and under-resourced.

"The raging Holt Health wildfire this summer should have been a stark warning that the service needs urgent investment to face increasing extreme weather events.

“Firefighters work tirelessly to keep communities safe, but the reality is that cuts and station closures put lives at greater risk.

"Fewer firefighters and fire engines available will mean slower response times to emergencies, at times when every second counts.

“The FBU is calling on the fire authority to reject these disastrous proposals. The council and fire service leaders must put public safety first and stop these cuts.”

Steve Wright, Fire Brigades Union general secretary said: “Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service is facing a devastating loss of resources, with senior leaders threatening to close eight fire stations.

“We need a fire and rescue service that is fit to face the future. Closing fire stations and running the service ragged will only leave communities at greater risk – instead we need investment to rebuild resilience.

“The FBU is ready to fight to prevent dangerous cuts up and down the country, and firefighters have been successful in stopping them in several brigades. Firefighters are making it clear that we won’t stand by while cuts cost lives.

“Dorset and Wiltshire fire authority and fire service must do everything in their power to secure the funding desperately needed to rebuild the service.”

The matter will be discussed by the Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Authority - an oversight committee of councillors from Swindon Borough Council, Wiltshire Council, Dorset Council, and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council - which meets at the fire service headquarters in Salisbury on Tuesday, February 10.

The committee will decide whether to take the proposals to a 13 week public consultation. 

Chief fire officer Andy Cole told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “As with many public sector organisations, Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service are facing significant financial challenges, despite our attempts to lobby Government for better funding.

"We have a programme of work underway to make sure we are sustainable in the future. The Fire & Rescue Authority will be making key decisions at their February meeting about proposals for station closures as part of this programme.

"More information will be available to the public when impacted staff have been advised and when papers are published for the Fire & Rescue Authority meeting in February."

He added: "We are continually running on-call recruitment campaigns across the Service area to improve on-call availability. More information about this can be found on our website.

"We will always look at ways to use our resources most efficiently, ensuring we continue to provide an emergency service to our communities when they need us, whilst making the best use of public money."

The service has 21 stations in Wiltshire, with most operating an 'on call' service meaning retained firefighters are called to the station when required.

They are at Amesbury, Bradford on Avon, Calne, Chippenham, Corsham, Cricklade, Devizes, Ludgershall, Malmesbury, Marlborough, Melksham, Mere, Pewsey, Ramsbury, Royal Wootton Bassett, Salisbury, Tisbury, Trowbridge, Warminster, Westbury, and Wilton.

Additionally there are three fire stations in Swindon - at Stratton, Drove Road, Swindon, and Westlea. All are manned full-time.