Save Our fire Stations Campaign - opposition grows to plans
Sep 24 2009
OPPOSITION to the cuts to Nuneaton and Bedworth’s fire service keeps on growing and shows no sign of stopping, with readers clamouring to join the Tribune’s campaign.
Thousands have signed petitions, joined Facebook groups and voiced their concerns over the plans which would see the station in Park Road close and the number of staff covering the Nuneaton and Bedworth area severely cut.
Our very own Save Our Fire Stations campaign has already hit triple figures in responses in just six days and a Facebook group called ‘STOP Bedworth Firestation from shutting down’ has more than 2,800 members.
Conservative councillors were in Bedworth town centre with a petition at the weekend and more than 1,000 people put their names to it, with Cllr Peter Gilbert, leader of Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council, delighted with the public’s show of strength.
He said: “This is an area where there are strong views and the people are prepared to express those views. I believe the people of Bedworth will certainly be the ones to fight for that and certainly will be the ones to get that done.”
Support is also just as strong in Nuneaton as more than 700 signatures were collected in just over two hours by Labour supporters in the town centre on Saturday.
Jayne Innes, prospective Labour parliamentary candidate for Nuneaton, said: “As was the case when we launched our petition two years ago, it was clear that local residents 100% support the campaign to retain Nuneaton fire station. They do not wish to see a single station serving Nuneaton and Bedworth, or the increased response times this would entail.
“People could not sign the petition fast enough and clearly people power is on our side. Warwickshire County Council and the fire service really should now reconsider.”
And Dan Byles, prospective Conservative parliamentary candidate for North Warwickshire, is delighted to see all parties working together for a common cause. He said: “All the political parties from Bedworth are mobilising to oppose this and we are doing our own petitions and that is right. The Conservatives have our own network of supporters that we can mobilise, the Labour Party and Liberal Democrats have their network, and it is right that we mobilise for a common cause. What isn’t right is if we attack each other and make this a party political fight and then the message gets lost and the cause gets lost.”
* To show your support fill in the letter in this week's paper and send it back to us or pop into our office in Brunel Road, Hinckley, and fill one in there and then.
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