COUNCIL leaders will be asked to formally oppose plans to shut four fire stations in the county amid growing fears over longer emergency response times in rural communities.

A motion due to be heard tomorrow will call on Wiltshire Council to fight proposals by Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service (DWFRS) to close stations at Bradford-on-Avon, Mere, Ramsbury and Wilton.

The closures form part of a wider consultation reviewing eight on-call stations across Dorset and Wiltshire as the service grapples with financial pressures.

But councillors Pauline Church for Wilton and George Jeans for Mere, who submitted the motion, argue the plans would leave vulnerable communities at greater risk.

Cllr Pauline Church.

In papers submitted to the council, they say DWFRS has already acknowledged closures would bring a “negative impact due to increased response times”, particularly in a county as rural and spread out as Wiltshire.

The motion highlights concerns raised during public consultations, claiming projected response times are based on a “best-case scenario” where fire engines are fully staffed and available at all times.

Councillors point to figures discussed by Wilton mayor Cllr Chris Harrison, who said Wilton’s fire engines are available around 65% of the time.

Cllr George Jeans.

Whereas the backup engines they expect to absorb Wilton’s emergencies from Salisbury, Tisbury, and Amesbury are on average available just 57%, 59%, and 4% of the time, respectively.

The motion claims closing Wilton station could delay the arrival of a second fire engine to a house fire by two minutes and 23 seconds, potentially causing the service to miss its own safety targets in most cases – an 85% failure rate.

Councillors are also questioning whether closures are necessary at all, citing DWFRS reserves of £23 million and urging central government to review how rural fire services are funded.

If passed, the motion would ask council leader Cllr Ian Thorn to write to ministers and Wiltshire MPs calling for changes to funding formulas, while also formally objecting to the proposed closures.

The debate comes as campaigners make a final push against the plans, warning that rural communities, particularly older residents and isolated villages, could be hardest hit.

A public consultation by DWFRS on the plans closed on Friday and a final decision expected June 30.