Fire stations could close under service's proposals

The consultation begins on Tuesday

A public consultation is to take place to help shape the future of fire and rescue services in Oxfordshire.

Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service said residents and businesses would be asked to share their views on proposals to "ensure that... fire stations, resources, and people are in the right place at the right time".

Among the proposals being consulted on are plans to relocate firefighters and fire engines away from larger stations, and the potential closure of three stations all together.

Rob MacDougall, the county's Chief Fire Officer, said he wanted people to "play an active role in helping us plan and shape the future of the service".

"It's important that we regularly review our resources, understand where incidents are most likely to happen and ensure we have the right level of emergency cover in those areas," he added.

The consultation, which begins on Tuesday, comes after a recent review by the service of how it delivers its emergency response.

The fire service said there had been a 36% decrease in the number of full-time equivalent on-call firefighters across Oxfordshire over the past decade.

It said there were more fire engines and firefighters available at night, when demand was lowest, compared to during the day when crews are busiest.

The public consultation will seek views on a range of proposals designed to "match resources to risk, improve community safety and futureproof the service", it said.

Many of the plans put forward in the consultation directly involve the future of Rewley Road fire station, in Oxford.

The proposal at the centre of the consultation would see the creation of five, day-shift fire engines in Wallingford, Faringdon, Witney, Bicester and Chipping Norton.

It also includes the removal of the on-call fire engine from Rewley Road fire station due to low staffing levels.

A separate proposal could see fire engines moved from Rewley Road and Kidlington stations to a new station in north Oxford.

No closures have been confirmed as part of the plans, but the service said on-call stations at Woodstock, Eynsham and Henley-on-Thames were being considered for closure due to "persistent low fire engine availability".