‘Every second counts’: Dorset and Wiltshire farmers rally against plans to close rural fire stations
Farmers in Dorset and Wiltshire have raised concerns over response times, if rural fire stations are forced to close
Farmers and rural communities across Dorset are being urged to oppose plans that could see eight fire stations closed as part of cost-cutting measures by Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service.
The proposals, currently under public consultation, would shut stations at Charmouth, Cranborne, Hamworthy and Maiden Newton in Dorset, alongside Bradford-on-Avon, Mere, Ramsbury and Wilton in Wiltshire, in an effort to address a funding shortfall of more than £1.2m.
Members of NFU Dorset and Wiltshire warn that the loss of rural fire cover could put lives, farmland and businesses at risk.
Gavin Fauvel, estate manager for the Cranborne Estate, said rural stations provide a vital frontline service during emergencies ranging from wildfires to flooding and road accidents.
“Fires do not respect time, every second counts,” he said. “That is the same for accidents on our roads and extreme weather events like flooding where the fire service is desperately needed.”
Mr Fauvel told us that rural areas rely heavily on firefighters’ local knowledge and specialist access to isolated locations.
“We have homes, businesses, livestock, fields of crops and a range of special habitats and areas that need that protection,” he said. “You can’t underestimate the importance of that unique local involvement, especially when trying to reach isolated incidents safely but at speed.”
Concerns have also been raised over the impact longer response times could have on agricultural businesses, particularly during increasingly hot and dry summers that heighten the risk of wildfires.
Peter Shallcross, a dairy farmer from Tisbury and chair of the Wiltshire NFU, said on-call firefighters are often the first on the scene during emergencies in remote communities.
“Sometimes firefighters find themselves battling multiple blazes or incidents in multiple areas, so I think we need to keep what we have,” he said.
Rural fire crews are regularly called to barn fires, machinery incidents, livestock rescues and collisions on narrow country roads.
Farmers also fear station closures could also affect insurance costs and wider risk management planning for rural enterprises.
The fire service says the proposals are part of efforts to balance budgets while maintaining emergency cover across the region.
Consultation responses can be submitted until 5pm on May 15th.