Public meetings to be held over potential fire station closures
Communities in Dorset and Wiltshire are being invited to share their views
Public meetings are set to begin next week as part of an ongoing consultation regarding the possible closure of eight fire stations by Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service.
From 2nd March until late April, meetings will take place in each affected community, complemented by online dial-in sessions for residents to participate from any location.
The stations under consultation are all on-call fire stations. The Dorset locations include Charmouth, Cranborne, Hamworthy, and Maiden Newton. In Wiltshire, Bradford on Avon, Mere, Ramsbury, and Wilton are affected.
According to Chief Fire Officer Andy Cole, the closures are being considered due to a 19.5% government funding cut, despite significant savings made by the service in the past decade.
“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,” Andy Cole said.
“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.”
The consultation aims to gather feedback from communities on the potential impact of these closures. Residents are urged to voice their opinions through meetings or an online survey available until Friday 15th May 2026.
The final decision will be made by the Fire & Rescue Authority at their meeting on 30th June 2026.
Details, including station-specific data, FAQs, and survey links, can be accessed at dwfire.org.uk/proposed-station-closures.