Dan Attends Atherstone Fire Station Public Meeting

Dan Byles, Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for North Warwickshire & Bedworth, last night attended the first public meeting being held to discuss controversial proposals which could see up to seven fire stations closing across Warwickshire.

The meeting was chaired by County Councillor Colin Hayfield, and also present were County Councillor and Portfolio Holder Richard Hobbes, and both the Chief Fire Officer (Paul Fuller) and Deputy Chief Fire Officer (Glen Ranger) for Warwickshire.

Public meetings will be held across Warwickshire over the coming weeks as part of a public consultation period for proposals put to the County Council from the Chief Fire Officer Paul Fuller. Mr Fuller is proposing a radical shake up of the Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service in order the modernise the Service and t free up resources to spend on additional traning and equipment.

The proposal are controversial however, and could result in a number of fire stations being closed or moved, and a reduction in the number of retained fire fighters.

As the first meeting to be held, the Atherstone meeting was not well attended with approx 35 local people turning up.

Speaking after the event, Dan Byles had this to say:

"It was disappointing not to see more people at the meeting, but I recognise that the plans for Atherstone are not as controversial as the plans are for some other parts on the county - specifically Bedworth.

"I deeply concerned about the potential for Bedworth to lose its fire station as a result of these proposals, so I was very interested to hear what the Chief Fire Officer had to say. I was particularly heartened at his confirmation that the public consultation is a genuine consultation, and that people's concerns and ideas will be listended to seriously.

"I am appealing to everybody not to be complacent, but to read up on what these proposals will mean for you your neighbourhood and to take part in the consultation.

"The deadline to have your say in 8 Dec 2009, and the address to write to is:

"Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service, Improvement Plan Consultation, Service Headquarters, Warwick Street, Leamington Spa, CV32 5LH

"Remember - it's your Fire Service. If you don't take an interest in it, who will?"