Shoppers Flock to Campaign to save Bedworth Fire Station

Conservatives were out in force on Saturday as volunteers hit the streets in both Nuneaton and Bedworth to campaign against proposals to merge the two towns' fire stations. Shoppers queued to offer their support as over 1000 signed the petition in just a few short hours.

Cllr. Peter Gilbert, Leader of Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough Council said, "We will fight to keep properly resourced fire stations in both Bedworth and Nuneaton. Firefighters risk their lives every day for people like us, and we have to provide them with the very best resources and support we can offer." Cllr. Gilbert was joined by Conservative Parliamentary Candidates Dan Byles (North Warwickshire & Bedworth) and Marcus Jones (Nuneaton), who ran petitions in the two town centres calling for the fire stations to be protected.

Dan Byles said, "We're delighted with the response to our petition, which is so much more likely to be successful with all parties pulling in the same direction. Although we will campaign as Conservatives, we are determined that this should not descend into a party political fight, because the priority has to be public safety and the protection of the fire station."

Mr Jones echoed his North Warwickshire colleague, adding, "If the fire station in Bedworth closes, that will inevitably impact on both towns. That is why I am calling for the County Council to reject the proposals outlined in the Chief Fire Officer's consultation. Front line, life saving services deserve to be protected, and it is important that savings are found elsewhere instead."