Plans to close rural fire station are shelved

Plans to close four fire stations have been dropped after extensive campaigning against the proposal.

Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service (DWFRS) had earmarked Mere, Rambsury, Bradford on Avon and Wilton stations for closure because of financial pressures.

But earlier this month a change in plans meant only Wilton was recommended for closure, and that has now also been shelved.

Chief fire officer Andy Cole said £1.8m of additional government funding has been secured but that it "does not resolve the authority's long-term financial position and we continue to face a deficit in future years".

DWFRS has said the latest financial settlement from the government is not enough for the service to keep running as it currently is, and keeping all stations open is dependent on the following conditions being met :-

• the service is given flexibility to raise the council tax precept in 2027/28
• there are no further reductions in funding from Government.

Dave Roberts, from the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) South West said: "We are not out of the woods yet, but this is a big step forward".

He added the process had been "emotionally draining" for FBU members.

Local MPs and politicians rallied against the proposing, with one councillor citing the on-call firefighter response to 2018 Novichok attacks in Salisbury andfarmers groups warning of the need for rural services to tackle wildfires and livestock rescues.

Alice Elliot, who campaigned against the closures, said: "It just shows if you throw enough of a tantrum there's movement."

Elliot said she was inspired by her father in law, who had been in the fire service locally for over 40 years and said "on call fire stations are crucial to resilience in the community".

The final decision about the stations will be made on 30 June.

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