Signatures needed to help save East Preston fire station

If West Sussex County Council’s fire service reorganisation proposals, which are currently subject to a public consultation, go ahead, the village could lose one of its two engines.

Parish councillors, though, have a established a petition against the plan, and if 3,000 residents sign, it would force a debate by the county council.

Speaking at a meeting of East Preston Parish Council on Monday, the village’s county councillor Peter Evans, who is also the county cabinet member responsible for the fire and rescue service, said: “I can assure you that if you sign the petition, if it gets 3,000 signatures, that will force a debate at county council. Your voices are not lost in the wilderness.

“It is not a done deal. There are a lot of conversations going on that the decision has already been taken, but this is not true.”

He went on to say that the “redesign”, which would mean Littlehampton’s station being upgraded to being manned by full-time, rather than retained (part-time), staff, and Findon closing altogether, was the result of modern methods of firefighting, as well as the need to save money.

“I’d love to have a fire station on every street corner, but fire stations do not save lives, the training and professionalism of firefighters is what saves lives.”

A member of the public suggested that it was response times that saved lives, in reply to which Mr Evans pointed out the proposed upgrade to Littlehampton’s station.

The report setting out the plans states that East Preston’s station “is not considered strategically important”, and that Worthing and Littlehampton were “preferred stand-by locations”.

Residents can find out more at about the plans at a meeting to be held tonight (Thursday),

Neil Odin, area manager for West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service will be at the Kingston Parish Council meeting, at the East Preston Village Hall, Sea Road, from 7.30pm.

The petition can be signed at the East Preston Parish Council offices, in the car park of the village hall, or to view the proposals in full, go to www.westsussex.gov.uk