Consultation meetings start for proposed fire station closures in Dorset and Wiltshire
Public urged to share their views before final decision in June
Last updated 2nd Mar 2026
A series of public meetings will commence from March as part of the consultation by the Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service on the potential closure of eight on-call fire stations.
Starting today (2nd March) and continuing until late April, meetings will be held in each of the affected communities. There will also be online dial-in sessions available for each location.
The stations under consultation include Charmouth, Cranborne, Hamworthy, and Maiden Newton in Dorset, and Bradford on Avon, Mere, Ramsbury, and Wilton in Wiltshire.
Chief Fire Officer Andy Cole explained the gravity of the situation, highlighting financial challenges following a significant reduction in government funding by 19.5%, despite previous savings of over £15 million in the past decade.
Cole stressed the importance of ensuring that operational staff are well-equipped and trained while acknowledging the reduction of corporate staff numbers as much as possible.
He said: “Nobody wants to close fire stations but, despite saving over £15 million in the last ten years, our financial position remains very challenging due to a 19.5% cut in funding provided directly from Government.
"We still need to make sure our operational staff have the equipment and training they need to stay safe, and we’ve pared back our Corporate staff numbers as much as possible. This isn’t Plan A, we’ve worked through many difficult options before this point.”
The consultation seeks input from the public, with the final decision set to be made by the Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Authority on 30th June.
Cole added: “The elected Members of Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Authority are responsible for keeping the Service sustainable, and they recognise that tough decisions need to be considered.”
Open until 15th May 2026, the consultation invites community members to express their concerns and suggestions through meetings or an available survey.