In their document proposing that Dorset & Wilts Fire Service closes 8 fire stations, they admit that they have “an already lean Service”. That’s a classic understatement. Since 2010 the service has “achieved cumulative savings of £82.1 million”. That’s a lot of cuts. There has been a loss of 20% of staff. This proposal will involve the loss of 96 more, nearly 10%.
Why are they proposing these cuts? Despite the government’s three year local authorities funding settlement, “it has not significantly changed the Authority’s medium-term position”. Whilst the “total funding has increased”, central government contributions will decrease and “a deficit position will remain”. The Revenue Support Grant will fall by just under £2.5 million; a cut of 19%.
For Fire Authorities, the settlement presumes an increase on the precept of £5 Band D increase in each of the three years; the maximum they can increase it by. The government assumes an annual tax base growth of 1.57%. However, the four local authorities that cover the area say that the tax base growth for 2026-27 is only 0.94%. The actual council tax income will be £0.357 million less than the government assumes.
The FBU says these cuts will leave communities across Dorset & Wiltshire without adequate protection from fires, flooding and other life threatening emergencies. The service is already overstretched and under-resourced. Response time are nearly two minutes slower than the national average. As climate change drives more severe wildfires and, flooding, pressure on the service will only intensify. Cutting resources at a time of rising risk is dangerous and short-sighted. The Holt Heath fire in Dorset showed the shortage of resources when fire fighters from far beyond the region had to be called in to assist.
As was pointed out at the meeting in Salisbury, when you close fire stations you lose local knowledge that can’t be replaced. Time is of the essence.
Dorset and Wilts admit they have insufficient resources. Now, only 16% of income comes from central government grant. It surely cannot be right that the quality of the Fire Service, on which lives depend, is dependent on business rates and council tax, rather than central government funding from tax. Isn’t that likely to mean than areas with lower income from these sources, will have a worse service?
The FBU has produced a petition opposing these cuts, with more than 10,000 signatures already. There is a 13 week consultation which runs until May 15th. As many people as possible should write in to the consultation to oppose these cuts. Poole MP Neil Duncan-Jordan is supporting the FBU campaign. Swindon’s MPs should do likewise. Constituents should write to them.
Whilst Swindon’s fire service is not directly impacted, these closures will mean remaining fire stations will have more work to cover. Insufficient resources mean slower response time, which can mean the difference between life and death.
The online consultation can be found at www.dwfire.org.uk/proposed-station-cloisures
Instead of rolling over, Dorset & Wilts Fire Service should be campaigning for adequate funding from central government. In Avon, as a result of lobbying of government, they received an extra £3.5 million funding. Similar efforts in Leicestershire produced an extra £2 million.
Martin Wicks
To sign the FBU petition go here: https://www.fbu.org.uk/campaigns/cuts-kill-save-dorset-and-wiltshire-fire-and-rescue-service
Martin Wicks 