Conservative Dan Byles Throws Weight Behind Warwickshire Fire Station Protest March

Former soldier Dan Byles, Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for North Warwickshire & Bedworth, has thrown his support behind a planned march against Fire Station Closures across the county. Thousands of protesters are expected to take part in the march on Shire Hall in Warwick.

It is being organised by Karen Scarrott, an Independent Counciller on Warwick District Council, with the support of local Tory campaigner and candidate Dan Byles.

The event will take place on Sunday 6 December, just two days before the end of the public consultation process over the controversial proposals to reform Warwickshire Fire & Rescue Service which could lead to the closure of Bedworth Fire Station. The march is supported by the Fire Brigade Union and the Retained Firefighters Union, and Dan Byles hopes that it will provide a final and deafening shout to make the views of local people very clear ahead of any final decision.

Chief Fire Officer Graeme Smith has repeatedly said to a series of public meetings around the county that the plans were “…not a done deal…”, and that the views of local people would be taken into account.

Dan Byles, who served in the Army for nine years and was responsible for emergency medical and fire response planning for NATO troops in Bosnia, said today:

“I have been opposed from the start to any proposals that will lead to the closure of Bedworth Fire Station.

“I’ve been responsible for emergency response planning when I was a soldier, and I am only too aware of the need for robust emergency response cover.

“And with the Government planning to impose some 14,000 new houses on Nuneaton & Bedworth against the wishes of local people, it is even more important that the emergency services are properly resourced and located to deal with incidents.

“That’s why I am throwing my support behind Karen’s plans for a march on Shire Hall. This will be our last and biggest opportunity to make our views clear, and to demonstrate that these proposals do not have the confidence of the public in Bedworth.

“If we can encourage thousands of people to take part and to demonstrate their opposition, it will send a clear signal and will provide an opportunity for the decision makers to think again.

“So I urge people from Bedworth and across North Warwickshire to come along on Sun 6 Dec. Let’s make our voices heard.”

Protesters will meet at 11.30 am on Sun 6 December at Warwick Racecourse by Hill Close Gardens, Warwick. The March to Shire Hall will start at noon. Anyone wishing to take part in the march can simply turn up, but you can also register your support beforehand at the facebook page by going to: http://ow.ly/xzEI