Fire Service Closures - Another Tory Red Herring?

4.35.59pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 6th Oct 2009

Cllr John Whitehouse with Liz Lynne MEP at Kenilworth Fire Station in March 2009

Cllr John Whitehouse (Liberal Democrat, Kenilworth Abbey) has written to the local press this week in response to a letter last week from Tory county cabinet member Cllr Alan Cockburn.

John wrote:

"Councillor Cockburn's letter last week about the current Fire Service Review contained new surprises. He referred to 'the suggestion that a new fire station for the area be built on or near the A46', and said that this 'would deserve serious consideration'.

"Sorry, but have I missed something? Where in the consultation documents can I find this suggestion? I have in writing from the Chief Fire Officer that the current plan for this area is based on Leamington fire station remaining in its current location. I wonder what residents of Leamington south of the river might make of the suggestion that their fire station should move to the northern edge of their town?

"My advice to Kenilworth residents is to concentrate on the plan actually in front of them, i.e. to close Kenilworth Fire Station and leave the Leamington one exactly where it is in the busy town centre. Cllr. Cockburn's hypothetical alternative plan is another red herring."