'More money needed' to keep fire stations open

A fire service says it needs more money from council tax payers if it is to keep operating eight rural stations.

Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service (DWFRS) had proposed closing eight stations to save money, but the recommendation was withdrawn in June on the condition the fire precept of tax bills would increase in April 2027.

Campaigner Alice Elliott, who runs Save Our Fire Stations, said it was a "misconception" the stations had been saved and they had to "continue pushing". Chief Fire Officer Andy Cole said the service needed £105 per household a year.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) said it would make future funding decisions "in the usual way".

Precept flexibility allows local authorities in England to increase council tax above core referendum limits for designated services.

"The conditions are quite strict and we do need our MPs and our communities to continue pushing and saying how much they care about their local fire stations," Elliott said.

"Since June, we've got a new prime minister and a new fire minister which means the relationship we built up with previous ministers has staggered and we need to rebuild them," she continued.

"If the precept flexibility doesn't come we need to make sure the service is finding other ways to save money."

DWFRS has 21 stations in Wiltshire, most operating an on-call service where retained firefighters respond when required.

Cole said: "If we get the precept flexibility, the eight stations won't close. If we don't get it, that means we've still got a budget deficit so those stations will close.

"It [the proposed increase] equates to about an additional seven pence a week on what households would have paid across the service, so it would equate to about 105 pounds per year for the fire and rescue service for households across Dorset and Wiltshire.

"For just over 100 pounds a year we can make sure you've got a fire and rescue service that is equipped, trained and ready to deal with emergencies," added Cole.

However Salisbury MP John Glen - who said he would raise the issue with Fire Minister Baroness Judith Blake - said there was "no new risk" to the fire stations at this time.

"The bigger issue is three or five years time when trends in use change and we'll have to keep vigilant and be clear about why we need a fire station in a rural part of Wiltshire," Glen said.

"The distance is an issue because you have a longer response time - there have been fewer fires over the years and obviously services reflect that," he added.

An MHCLG spokesperson said: "We know services like Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Authority work tirelessly to keep their communities safe.

"That's why we've made £79.5 million available for them, an increase of more than 4% compared to last year, and we will make decisions on future funding arrangements in the usual way."

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