Bradford-on-Avon Mayor fears "tragic consequences" of fire station closure
Mayor urges community to participate in consultation
The Mayor of Bradford-on-Avon has highlighted his fears of the consequences of seeing the towns Fire Station close could end in tragedy.
Bradford-on-Avon is one of four sites bosses at Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service are proposing to shut in order to save over a million pounds.
Ramsbury, Wilton and Mere are the other three, while four more in Dorset are also up for closure.
"The response times are going to go up," Mayor Jack Vittles said. "The fire authority and the chief fire officer himself have admitted that these closures do mean increased risk."
The Mayor added that Bradford-on-Avon's unique geography, including the river running through the centre of town, adds additional concerns.
"We have slightly unique circumstances where we have the river running through the centre of our town. We flood frequently. Tragically, we've had a few really bad incidences of river safety over the last couple of years. So I worry about that as well," he said.
"It's about loss of coverage. It's about longer response times," Cllr Vittles added, highlighting the valuable local knowledge possessed by firefighters familiar with the town's historic layout.
Opposition and Financial Solutions
Cllr Vittles acknowledged the financial challenges faced by the fire service but emphasized exploring alternatives to preserve the station.
"I can only take them by their word that they don't want to make this decision," Vittles said, empathizing with the fire authority.
"There’s a really strong case that actually this station shouldn’t have been included on the list of eight in the first place."
Mayor Vittles cited the station’s efficiency and incidents attended as points justifying its continuation.
The Town Council is to oppose the closure, but insists it's ready to work with firefighters and fire bosses to reach a more suitable outcome.
Community and Firefighter Impact
The potential station closure could affect 96 firefighters, many of whom contribute to the community alongside their main jobs.
"It's really a testament to their community spirit and their hardworking ethos," Cllr Vittles said, acknowledging their roles within the community.
He stressed the irreversible nature of closing fire stations, urging residents to participate in the consultation process and continue advocating for the fire station to remain operational.
We can take part in the consultation here.