Petition launched to stop fire cuts - The Malvern Observer

Petition launched to stop fire cuts

Malvern Editorial 24th Oct, 2013 Updated: 20th Oct, 2016   0

A PETITION has been launched to stop proposals to cut fire services across the county.

The online petition was created by Chris Edwards following the announcement Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service plan to save £4.7 million over the next three years.

Under the proposed cuts Ledbury Fire Station, along with Bromyard and Tenbury, could have one on-call engine removed.

Other proposals would see Redditch lose one of the two on-call engines as well as six on-call firefighters, while Hereford and Worcester stations could lose a full-time crew and 44 jobs could be axed across both, while a third aims to shut Bewdley and Broadway, with further closures or removal of engines across the border in Herefordshire.




The 24-year-old said it was ‘totally unacceptable’ to cut front-line emergency services.

“There is talk of closing fire stations and cutting engines and I think it’s very extreme.


“The options they are looking at are ridiculous. We’ve got to show them people across Worcestershire and Herefordshire don’t want it.

“We want the Government to stop the cuts affecting fire station closures and pump removals.

“I grew up in Bewdley in my childhood and that is just one area where they are looking at closing the station. We’ve got to fight this.”

Nearly 1,000 residents have already signed the Stop Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service Budget Cuts petition, with Mr Edwards aiming to reach 50,000 by the end of December before the consultation period closes on January 10 next year.

John Hodges, assistant chief fire officer for HWFS, said: “The service is well aware some online groups and petitions had been formed over recent days and completely understand community concerns over potential changes to their fire cover, which is why we are undertaking such an extensive consultation process, with all our key stakeholders, between now and the New Year.”

He added the fire authority was keen to hear from everyone during the consultation process and encouraged them to complete the community risk management plan questionnaire.

Visit www.hwfire.org.uk/consultation to complete the questionnaire and www.ipetitions.com/petition/stophwfirecuts to sing the petition.

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