On the 20th of July, the Conservatives on Warwickshire County Council voted to close three of the retained fire stations in the county – Warwick, Studley and Brinklow.

The Tories claim that these closures are needed to allow service improvements across Warwickshire. However, they are part of a package of  savings worth £113,000 a year and at dozens of retained firefighters will lose their positions. Labour councillors put forward an alternative proposal to keep all of the current stations open and still bring in improvements to the service at no extra cost, but the Tories voted against this. As a result we believe that the Conservatives have put saving money above saving lives.

The campaign continues

Labour in Rugby and across Warwickshire will continue to oppose these cuts, which have been acknowledged may increase response times in rural areas of Warwickshire.

The following Tory Councillors in the Rugby area voted to close Brinklow Fire Station along with those in Warwick and Studley:

Peter Butlin
Robin Hazelton
Carolyn Robbins
John Vereker
Helen Walton
Claire Watson
David Wright