On 10 February 2026 the Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Authority voted to begin a public consultation on proposals to close eight on‑call fire stations across Dorset and Wiltshire. The move could change how emergency cover is delivered in parts of Swindon and Wiltshire, because local crews may be required to cover larger areas if nearby stations are removed.
The service says it needs to make in‑year savings of around £1.206 million to help balance its £79.5m budget for 2026–27. Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service and the Authority say the proposals are a response to ‘significant financial challenges’, including inflationary pressures and limited central government funding.
Modelling carried out for the service suggests that, if the four Wiltshire on‑call stations under review (Bradford‑on‑Avon, Mere, Ramsbury and Wilton) and the four Dorset stations (Charmouth, Cranborne, Hamworthy and Maiden Newton) were closed, major Swindon hubs – including Westlea, Stratton and Drove Road (Swindon Central) – would pick up additional incidents. That modelling projects average response times across the service could increase by nearly a minute; the Fire Brigades Union has warned that such delays would put people at greater risk.
The public consultation will run from 13 February 2026 until 15 May 2026. The Authority says it will publish station‑specific impact documents and hold public meetings and an online survey so residents can see the evidence and ask questions. A final decision is expected to be taken at the Authority meeting on 30 June 2026.
The Fire Brigades Union (FBU), led by General Secretary Steve Wright, has already campaigned against the proposals, saying fewer firefighters and engines would make communities less safe. The union and local campaigners have urged residents to take part in the consultation and have highlighted modelling figures showing the potential increase in response times.
The Authority has emphasised that no final decision has yet been made and that the consultation is intended to gather local views before councillors vote.
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