Bewdley Fire Station safe for 'the foreseeable future'

A draft of the original Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP), released in October 2013, would have seen the town’s fire station close alongside three others.

There were also plans to potentially remove 10 fire engines from the service’s 43 frontline fleet but that decision has also been revised.

Wyre Forest MP Mark Garnier, who last year urged senior officials to rethink the proposals to reconfigure the service and close Bewdley station, said the decision is excellent news.

"The safety of Worcestershire residents is extremely important and it was concerning that front line services such as fire stations and engines were at risk," he said.

"It is fantastic news that the stations will now remain open and no fire engines will be removed from Hereford and Worcester stations.”

“HWFA has worked extremely hard to consult on the draft CRMP and make savings without jeopardising front line services.” 

However, the authority has agreed to change some of the crewing systems and numbers of firefighters on engines at some of the stations.

The changes are being made as the authority needs to address an overall budget shortfall of more than £6 million in a five year period.

While 73 per cent of these savings will come from reductions in back office and management roles and through a range of internal service improvements, £1.7 million still needs to be found.

Derek Prodger, chairman of the authority, said: “Closing a fire station will always be a last resort for this authority.

“The Chief Fire Officer and his team continually strive to make efficiencies away from the frontline, but while we may be faced with some more tough decisions again in future years, for now these changes will help to meet some of the immediate savings needed.”