Chief Fire Officer Now Advises that Wilton Fire Station should Remain Open

Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service's Chief Fire Officer has now fully reversed his advice on closing eight fire stations across Wiltshire and Dorset, including Wilton.

In January, Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service informed firefighters of proposals to close eight fire stations across the county.

Earlier this month (5th June), Chief Fire Officer, Andy Cole, changed his advice, that all but two of the stations remain open, with the advice to merge Wilton with Salisbury and Hamworthy with Poole. 

In a statement released today (18th June), that position has once again changed. 

Chief Fire Officer Andy Cole said: “Since the Members Working Group met in early June, I have received further information in relation to our funding position, which means I have made a further amendment to my professional advice to them.

"Alongside the consultation process and discussions around future funding, I’ve been looking at every opportunity available to improve the Service’s financial position and remove the need for station closures and job losses. One of those opportunities was a bid to Government for funding to support work we have been doing around innovation, data, technology and service improvement. I am really pleased that this has been successful and secured the Service £1.8 million of one-off Government funding, which we will receive imminently.

"This one-off funding does not resolve the Authority’s long-term financial position and we continue to face a deficit in future years, however it does provide more time for the Service to make changes through our modernisation programme.

"I have said throughout the process that my advice to Members would change if the financial position changed. The Members Working Group have considered my advice and revised their recommendation for the Authority on 30 June:

For the Fire Authority:

• to agree that all eight fire stations, namely, Bradford on Avon, Cranborne, Charmouth, Hamworthy, Maiden Newton, Mere, Ramsbury and Wilton fire stations remain open;
• to agree to the implementation of the Service Modernisation Programme;

Subject to;

1. the Authority being granted flexibility to raise council tax precept to at least the national average for fire services for 2027/28,
2. the subsequent approval of the council tax precept rise by the Authority at its meeting in February 2027; and
3. there are no other and further reductions in funding

Should these conditions not be met the Fire Authority agree that all eight fire stations will be closed.

"The next step of the process is for Fire Authority Members to consider and vote on the recommendations on the 30 June, we will then continue lobbying central government for the fire precept flexibility which will be confirmed in February 2027. Fire Authority papers will be published on our website on Monday 22 June, in advance of the meeting on 30 June."