Ward End Fire Station

Contributions

1. Liam Byrne (Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North) (Lab)Labour

   I rise to present this petition on behalf of residents of Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North. It insists that Ward End fire station must stay open. The Fire Brigades Union has been warning for the last couple of months that un-thought-through cuts by West Midlands fire service imperil this fire station, yet the wildfires that we had across the constituency over the course of the summer underline how every single second counts and why these plans are wrong, wrong, wrong. They have not been discussed with the mayor; they are precipitate, and they need to be dropped now. The petitioners therefore request “that the House of Commons urge the Government to work with the West Midlands Fire Service and other relevant bodies to keep Ward End Fire Station open. And the petitioners remain, etc.” Following is the full text of the petition: [The petition of residents of Birmingham Hodge Hill & Solihull North. This petition declares that the West Midlands Fire Service must keep Ward End Fire Station open; further that firefighters have warned that the Service is considering the closure and sale of the station; further that such a closure would leave a gap in local fire cover for residents of Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North, with crews having to travel further to reach emergencies; further that fire engines would be moved to the Fire Service headquarters near the city centre and that one vehicle's cover would be reduced from 24 hours a day to daytime-only operation, increasing danger at night; and further that residents fear that closing Ward End Fire Station would place both local people and firefighters at greater risk. The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to work with the West Midlands Fire Service and other relevant bodies to keep Ward End Fire Station open. And the petitioners remain, etc.] [P003248]

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