MP welcomes reprieve for threatened fire station

An MP has welcomed a plan to keep open a fire station which was threatened with closure, following extra government investment.

Hamworthy fire station in Dorset was due to merge with Poole fire station, as part of a year-long trial to save money.

However, the government has given Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service an extra £1.8m in one-off funding, allowing Hamworthy to be maintained for at least a year.

Poole MP Neil Duncan-Jordan said: "It is a welcome reprieve and we will need to keep up the pressure to ensure the long-term future of the service in our area."

Hamworthy was one of eight fire stations previously earmarked for closure by the service.

However, on 5 June, chief fire officer Andy Cole announced that six of them could be saved, while two others including Hamworthy would merge with neighbours.

In an update on Thursday, he said the service had successfully bid for government funding to support innovation, data, technology and service improvement.

Cole added: "This one-off funding does not resolve the authority's long-term financial position and we continue to face a deficit in future years.

"However, it does provide more time for the service to make changes through our modernisation programme."

Duncan-Jordan previously told the House of Commons that merging Hamworthy with Poole would lead to longer response times.

Welcoming the planned reprieve, he said: "The one-off and temporary £1.8m funding from government has helped keep the station open, but it is important to secure precept flexibility next year.

"I have already made that clear to government and I hope between now and 2027 we can find a more sustainable long-term basis of funding for the service."

A final decision is due to be made by the fire authority on 30 June.