Lyme and Charmouth ward members join fire station closure protest
Councillor Belinda Bawden is joining a protest outside County Hall in Dorchester on Thursday (May 16th) against proposed cuts to fire stations. Councillor Bawden represents Lyme Regis and Charmouth on Dorset Council and the Charmouth fire station is on the list for closure.
A public consultation on the proposed closures finishes on Friday (May 15th). The Dorset Fire and Rescue Service says it has to consider closing eight fire stations across Dorset and Wiltshire to save money.
“Charmouth Fire Station provides an essential community service to the village, surrounding rural areas and neighbouring towns. To close the fire station would rip the heart out of the village and could accelerate the inability of the community to function”, said Councillor Bawden. “Putting people at risk by closing the fire station in an area of high numbers of elderly people, huge influxes of visitors and a rural hinterland with remote, isolated villages seems a huge gamble that needs to be resisted and alternative solutions to cuts identified”.
Former firefighter Kelvin Clayton, a Green candidate for the by-election in Bridport on May 21st said: “I hope a large number of people will come along at 5.30 on Thursday outside County Hall and join this peaceful protest. Even if you can’t come along, please share your concerns by responding to the public consultation before 5pm on Friday”.
