The Chief Fire Officer for the Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service has provided an update on plans that could see eight fire stations closed, including the Hamworthy site in Poole, Dorset. On 19 March 2026, Andy Cole confirmed he has attended 13 public meetings, at six of the eight locations, to discuss the future of the service as part of an ongoing review. The process is designed to help the service understand how residents feel about potential changes to emergency coverage.
The stations currently under consideration for closure include Hamworthy, Charmouth, Cranborne, and Maiden Newton in Dorset, along with Bradford on Avon, Mere, Ramsbury, and Wilton in Wiltshire. These are all on-call stations, which means they are staffed by firefighters who live or work nearby and respond to emergencies when they are called. The service began asking the public for their views on these changes in February 2026.
According to the Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Authority, the closures are being considered because of ongoing financial challenges. While recent changes allowed for a £5 increase in council tax, the service stated that this extra money is not enough to solve its long-term budget problems.
The Member of Parliament for Poole, Neil Duncan-Jordan, has formally challenged the plan to close the Hamworthy station by submitting a motion in Parliament. He has also requested a meeting with the Fire Minister to discuss how the loss of the station would impact response times and safety for local people.
