Lib Dem Motion on Fire Service Plan Backed by Stratford District Council

6.03.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 20th Oct 2009

Nigel Rock with protestors outside Stratford District Council

Stratford District Council voted yesterday that it 'could not support' the proposed closure of the retained fire stations in Warwickshire.

The vote came at the end of a full Council Meeting, on the debate of a motion put forward by the Liberal Democrats. The proposal was passed with the support of Liberal Democrat, Conservative and Independent Councillors.

There were a number of abstentions from Councillors who are on the County Council, but no votes against.

The meeting followed a demonstration outside the Council offices in Stratford by members of the public and fire fighters, calling for the fire stations to be kept open.

During the debate Cllr Nigel Rock (Lib Dem, Stockton & Napton)drew comparison with his experience as a volunteer community ambulance service responder, where emergency equipment and local knowledge was brought together to give quick response. In that case it was the use of defibrillator and oxygen to heart attack patients, but instead of cutting back in the ways now proposed for the fire service - the ambulance services were seeking to expand provision.

Cllr Hazel Wright (Lib Dem Studley), Leader of the Liberal Democrats on the District Council, said:

"There is a huge groundswell of opinion against these fire station closures. Splits are opening up over the issue amongst the Conservatives, with local Conservative Councillors refusing to back the closure programme being put forward by their colleagues on the County Council.

"There is increasing disquiet about the consultation programme, which we believe is fundamentally flawed. I hope the Conservatives at the County Council will now see sense and call a halt to their plans, before any more public money is spent on a discredited consultation process."

The debate followed a challenge by the Liberal Democrats to the appointment of Cllr Valerie Hobbs to the Warwickshire County Council Overview and Scrutiny Board. (Agenda item 12).

Cllr Peter Moorse (Lib Dem Stratford) pointed out that Cllr Valerie Hobbs' husband was the Portfolio Holder at the County Council for the Fire and Rescue Service and that the public would be surprised to see her being appointed to a body involved in the possible scrutiny of work in which her husband had an involvement.

The Liberal Democrats proposed Cllr Roger Wright (Independent, Wellesbourne) instead, but the Conservatives, in a recorded vote, confirmed Cllr Valerie Hobbs's appointment.