FRSA Campaign Against Station Closures

03/08/2026

In our latest episode of Priority Message, Alice Elliott, Dylan McEvoy and Nicki Jackson discuss the proposed closures of 4 on-call stations and 4 on-call sections in Kent.

These closures are the result of years of changes to the on-call duty system in the county. We're calling on the Fire Authority to review the full impact these changes have had on firefighters.

Listen to the latest episode: https://linktr.ee/frsa.uk #289955960

30/06/2026

29/06/2026

The FRSA call upon the Fire Authority to amend the current proposal regarding the closure of 8 Fire Stations.

On Tuesday 30th June, the Dorset and Wiltshire Fire Authority will meet to determine the fate of the 8 Fire Stations that the Chief Fire Officer, Andy Cole, had previously proposed for closure.

His third proposal is as follows:
"For the Fire Authority:

- to agree that all eight fire stations, namely, Bradford on Avon, Cranborne, Charmouth, Hamworthy, Maiden Newton, Mere, Ramsbury and Wilton fire stations remain open;
- to agree to the implementation of the Service Modernisation Programme;
Subject to;

- the Authority being granted flexibility to raise council tax precept to at least the national average for fire services for 2027/28,
- the subsequent approval of the council tax precept rise by the Authority at its meeting in February 2027; and
- there are no other and further reductions in funding
Should these conditions not be met the Fire Authority agree that all eight fire stations will be closed."

The FRSA welcome the new proposal with one exception; the final sentence:
"Should these conditions not be met the Fire Authority agree that all eight fire stations will be closed." This final sentence completely disregards all the hard work undertaken by DWFRS staff, Fire Authority Members, PAG, Unions and the public during the Public Consultation process. It is simply not right to make a 'proposal' that pre-determines the outcome.

We call upon the Fire Authority to seek an amendment to the proposal before accepting it. We suggest that the wording should be along the lines of:

Should these conditions not be met, the Fire Authority agree to reconsider all eight fire stations for closure.

We recognise, that there remains a risk that the Government will not agree to the precept flexibility that is yet to be requested. In that case, the Fire Authority will need to reconsider all options open to them, including re-visiting the proposal to close Fire Stations. However, the wording of Andy Cole's proposal completely disregards the entire Public Consultation process. The Fire Authority have not yet had the opportunity to debate the report and its conclusions. The published report shows the overwhelming public opposition to the proposal to close Fire Stations.

The FRSA do not believe that the Fire Authority should take a vote on the proposal in its current form, as this has a pre-determined outcome that has not yet been debated. If they agree to the current proposal, it hands the Chief Fire Officer full control to close all 8 Fire Stations without further discussion or debate. That is simply not just and circumnavigates the legal requirement for the Fire Authority to decide if Fire Stations should be closed.

However, we do welcome the proposal regarding the implementation of the Service Modernisation Programme. The FRSA look forward to engaging with DWFRS and the Fire Authority to discuss what this should look like and we believe that the public should also have a say in what a modern Fire and Rescue Service should be.

We will continue to lobby MPs and Government for fairer funding for the Fire and Rescue Service and we look forward to working with DWFRS towards a modern and sustainable future.

17/06/2026

Some excellent breaking news. The Chief Fire Officer of Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service, Andy Cole, has changed his advice to the Fire Authority regarding the proposal to merge Hamworthy with Poole and Wilton with Salisbury.

Based on an improving, short term, financial situation, the CFO is now proposing to the Fire Authority that all 8 Fire Stations remain fully open and that the FA agree to the implementation of the Service Modernisation Programme, subject to:

1. the Authority being granted flexibility to raise council tax precept to at least the national average for fire services for 2027/28,

2. the subsequent approval of the council tax precept rise by the Authority at its meeting in February 2027; and

3. there are no other and further reductions in funding

Should these conditions not be met the Fire Authority agree that all eight fire stations will be closed.

While the FRSA acknowledge that this new proposal still has to be agreed by the Fire Authority and that it is conditional, it is excellent news for all 8 Stations, but particularly for Wilton and Hamworthy as it lifts the proposed mergers.

The FRSA and the staff at all 8 Fire Stations would like to thank the public for their overwhelming support during the past few very difficult months. We are now hopeful that we can move forward in a more positive way.

The FRSA welcomes the opportunity to work with DWFRS on their modernisation programme and to help them find sustainable options to maintain, or improve, service delivery.

15/05/2026

**LAST DAY**
Today is the last day of the Public Consultation by Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service and the Fire Authority.

You have until 5pm TODAY to submit your opinion regarding the proposed closure of 8 On-call Fire Stations across Dorset and Wiltshire; Charmouth, Cranborne, Hamworthy, Maiden Newton, Ramsbury, Bradford-on-Avon, Mere and Wilton.

If we are successful in our fight to keep these Fire Stations open, then we may be able to unchain the Maiden Newton 'Suffragettes' from the front of this Fire Engine!

You can access the survey from the link below, but please hurry, or else lives will be lost.

https://customervoice.microsoft.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=WH-wQVPkIU-TNr7TeFhZUXqsixLIZwZBpd63pxIB2pJUNjdMUjhaUVNVN1JWQkNaN0xRQ1YxVU8zOC4u


Save Our Fire Stations

14/05/2026

Further coverage of the Maiden Newton Action Groups protest from this evening can be found on the ITV Westcountry site

Something's gone wrong and we've got some technical issues at our end. Please take a look at on Twitter for the most up-to-date information from us.

14/05/2026

Today, the Maiden Newton Action group took the fight to Save Our Fire Stations to the full meeting of Dorset Council. They held a peaceful protest outside of County Hall in Dorchester and were able to put a question to the full council meeting.

Their question is simply: Has the Council considered how losing Fire Stations will impact its own service provision such as funding an increase in emergency accommodation, provision of rest centres, emergency road closures and traffic management?

It highlights that closing Fire Stations won't just impact the Fire and Rescue Service, other organisations, including the four councils, will have to pick up the pieces. Not to mention the health service and the families of those that will inevitably lose their lives.

You have until 5pm tomorrow, 15th May, to submit your completed survey online. Please take the time to do this as your opinion matters as much as anyone else.

Details can be found here, just click on the link to take the survey:

https://www.dwfire.org.uk/about-us/your-fire-and-rescue-service/proposed-station-closures/


Save Our Fire Stations

06/05/2026

Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service (DWFRS) have identified an error affecting paper copies of the consultation questionnaire that were made available at the public events. A question was missing from those paper copies.

We made DWFRS aware of differences between the two surveys as far back as the 24th February and then again on 23rd April. It is inexcusable that two different versions of the survey were produced and that the errors were allowed to remain in place for two months.

The missing question asked whether respondents had any alternative suggestions to the proposals set out in the consultation, including alternatives to fire station closures. This is THE key question in the survey, as the Fire Authority have openly admitted that "they do not have a plan B". They have stated repeatedly that the purpose of the public consultation is to allow members of the public to identify "areas that they might have missed".

If you have completed one of the paper consultation surveys, and would like to complete an additional questionnaire, you can do this in three ways:

• by completing a short online form https://customervoice.microsoft.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=WH-wQVPkIU-TNr7TeFhZUXqsixLIZwZBpd63pxIB2pJURTQyVUFGRlZCTlFKU0xESVRXNkZSTUZPVS4u&fbclid=IwZnRzaARoShNleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeSJhq_SlPjBCzYIECrPwjAMuuIxCt-6HIcJvWj-zwK4orSmj_Rgi_TV5BMOc_aem_YN68B0nODVc7330ftbf6vQ

• by using an updated paper form available at the eight fire stations being proposed for closure
• by emailing your comments to [email protected]

We very much encourage you to take one of the steps above if you completed a paper copy.

For those that haven't yet completed the survey at all, please do. You can access the online version here: https://customervoice.microsoft.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=WH-wQVPkIU-TNr7TeFhZUXqsixLIZwZBpd63pxIB2pJUNjdMUjhaUVNVN1JWQkNaN0xRQ1YxVU8zOC4u

21/04/2026

We are very pleased that John Glen MP has been able to meet with the Fire Minister today along with other colleagues from Dorset and Wiltshire. They met to discuss the proposal to close 8 Fire Stations across Dorset and Wiltshire.

We first contacted John in January and had a very positive response. We will continue to work with MPs and Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service to help improve Central Government funding and to keep these Fire Stations open.

Thank you very much John Glen MP and everyone that is working hard to Save Our Fire Stations.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1GNLNdiWco/?mibextid=wwXIfr

I am very pleased that my Wiltshire and Dorset colleagues and I managed to organise a meeting with the Fire Minister to discuss our concerns about the proposed closure of fire stations across the two counties.

I am grateful to the Minister for her time and for her careful consideration of this urgent issue. I am very pleased that she has committed to working with her officials and Wiltshire and Dorset Fire Service to look for ways to broaden the options available to our Chief Fire Officer.

I am determined to do everything I can to save Wilton Fire Station from closure; this is a positive step toward finding alternative ways to meet or alleviate the budget restraints before the consultation closes and decisions are final.
Wilton Fire Station Cllr Pauline Church

21/04/2026

If you are struggling to find your way through the Public Consultation Survey on the proposal to close 8 Fire Stations across Dorset and Wiltshire, then help is at hand.

The Maiden Newton Action Group have organised two support sessions in the local pub, Chalk and Cheese Pub - Maiden Newton . The team will be on hand to help you complete paper copies or to access the online survey. They will help you to navigate the process smoothly and be able to help clarify any points that you are unsure of.

The first session is this evening from 6pm until 8pm. Just drop in with your portable device, mobile, tablet or laptop if you have one. Don't worry if not as there will be a few people already online to assist.

The next session will be on Wednesday 22nd April (tomorrow) between 2pm and 4pm. Same guidance as above.

We hope that other areas will be providing similar sessions to help you. We will advertise these as we become aware of them.