WYRE Forest councillors will be submitting their concerns over the possible closure of Bewdley Fire Station and the removal of an engine in Kidderminster to fire chiefs.

During a full council meeting on Wednesday last week, members agreed to hand in their objections to Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Authority bosses as part of its consultation.

The fire authority is considering shutting Bewdley’s Dog Lane base or removing one of the two fire engines from Kidderminster as one of a number of options to save almost £5 million in the next three years.

Bewdley Conservative district councillor Stephen Clee said closing the town’s fire station would only save about £110,000 a year.

“In my view there is no need to close Bewdley,” Mr Clee said.

“Bewdley fire station can clearly respond to incidents in the areas to the north west, north and north east of the station more quickly than other appli- ances sent from Kidderminster or Stourport.

There is no financial imperative at this stage to make this cost-cutting move.”

He added: “Retaining Bewdley Fire Station would not only ensure that the area was covered for emergencies but would also mean that it could be developed fur- ther to make greater use of the specialist equip- ment that it holds.

“Frontline provision should not be the port of call for savings.

Frontline provision is the true test of emergency services.”

He added one of the authority’s options – to reduce provision at Hereford, Worcester and Redditch fire stations – would save more than £1.5 million a year and “produce a much better, integrated fire service”.

A consultation period will run until January 10, 2014 and the fire authority should make a decision on February 19.