March due over Warwickshire fire station closure plans

By Nick Watson Producer, West Midlands Politics Show

Plans to close seven fire stations in Warwickshire have led to a public protests.

Hundreds of people are expected to join a protest against plans to close fire stations in Warwickshire.

Demonstrators will march through Warwick to a rally at the town's Shire Hall on Sunday (December 6, 2009).

Under the proposals, seven fire stations will shut in the county with up to 100 retained fire fighters losing their jobs.

Warwickshire Fire Service say the changes are about reinvesting in other services and not saving money.

Save Our Fire Crews is the message from the public in Studley

Over the last few weeks thousands of people have attended public meetings to find out more about the plans.

The headline change involves closing fire stations in Warwick, Bedworth, Studley, Kenilworth, Brinklow, Bidford and Fenny Compton.

The fire service say the work from these stations can be picked up by neighbouring stations with the money put into other parts of the service.

This would include things like rescue boats to deal with increased flooding, smoke alarms to prevent serious fires and employing 20 extra full-time fire fighters.

Chief Fire Officer Graeme Smith has been in the job for less than two months and says he is listening to the views of local people.

Genuine consultation

"This is genuine consultation," he said recently at a question-and-answer session hosted by BBC Coventry and Warwickshire.

"I was appointed seven weeks ago and was given a clear steer that there was a consultation exercise going on.

"We do want to listen and we want to do the best for the communities of Warwickshire and make people safer," he said.

With feelings running high and a general election jut around the corner, prospective MPs are uniformly sympathetic to campaign groups opposing closure plans.

Chief Fire Officer Graeme Smith speaks to radio listeners

Warwick & Leamington's Labour MP James Plaskitt is portraying the idea as the work of the Conservative-run Warwickshire County Council, who will have the final say.

"This is an extremely short-sighted and dangerous proposal," said Mr Plaskitt on his website recently.

"The Conservatives on the county council seem to be more concerned about saving money than saving lives," he added.

Chris White is the prospective Conservative candidate for the seat and a Warwick district councillor.

Public consultation

He wants his Conservative colleagues at County Hall to reject the proposals.

"My view is clear. We must save our fire station. And the only way we can bury this proposal is by taking part in the Fire Service's consultation process, " he said.

The public consultation ends on Tuesday, December 8 with the county council expected to make its decision at the end of January.

That decision could have political ramifications in a county rich with marginal constituencies - places like Warwick & Leamington, Rugby & Bulkington and Nuneaton - all targets for the Conservatives.

Despite the protestations of the Chief Fire Officer that reorganisation is not about cuts the subtleties of that argument may be lost in the heat of election battle.

With public sector cuts dominating the national political agenda it could prove to be an inflammatory issue.

Bad guys

For Labour, struggling after its defeats at Tory hands in the county council elections in May, it is a much-needed lifeline for their struggling general election candidates.

It gives them the chance to portray the Conservatives as the bad guys when it comes to cost cutting - and when it comes to public support it is difficult to find a more sympathetic case than the fire service.

Arguments about culling bureaucrats and desk jockeys may be a vote winner - telling Fireman Sam to hang up his hose will always be a tough sell.

Conservatives on Warwickshire County Council will be aware that this smouldering political row could severely damage the chances of their Westminster hopefuls.

The question is will the councillors pour petrol or water onto the glowing embers?