A CAMPAIGNER is urging residents who have not yet taken part in the consultation on proposed fire stations closures to make their voices heard before it closes tomorrow.

Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service has been consulting on plans to shut eight on-call stations as part of what it says is a move to address financial pressures and ensure “sustainable service delivery”.

The stations under review are Charmouth, Cranborne, Hamworthy and Maiden Newton in Dorset, and Bradford on Avon, Mere, Ramsbury and Wilton in Wiltshire.

The consultation closes tomorrow – May 15 – with a final decision expected on June 30.

Wilton campaigner Alice Elliot, who set up Save Our Fire Stations and has visited the eight towns affected, said time was running out for the public to influence the outcome.

“No decisions have been made yet, and it’s more vital than ever that your opinion is shared with the fire service,” she said.

“It truly is your safety at risk, and the whole service will be impacted. So please take some time and fill in the survey to help our cause.”

She said communities affected by the proposals were still pressing for answers and political support remained ongoing.

“I’m incredibly grateful to the MPs and Cllr Pauline Church for continuing to push this at a local and national level,” she added.

“There is continued conversations with the fire minister, and I’m hopeful that these will come to a resolution which protects our stations from cuts.”

Alice said she expected the Fire Authority to look at alternatives if there was strong opposition to the proposals and highlighted Oxfordshire where plans to shut three fire stations were recently thwarted.

“I expect the Fire Authority and the service to consider alternatives and push those forward instead,” she said.

“Like many, I am worried that this has been a box ticking exercise but I continue to hold hope that we can stop this proposal from going through.

“We’ve seen this recently in Oxfordshire and I’m incredibly hopeful that the pressure from this will help change the decision.”

To take part in the consultation, visit https://www.dwfire.org.uk/news/public-consultation-agreed-on-fire-station-closure-proposals/