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Potential station closure consultation update
We have identified an administrative error affecting paper copies of the consultation questionnaire that were made available at the public events. A question was missing from those paper copies.
The missing question asked whether respondents had any alternative suggestions to the proposals set out in the consultation, including alternatives to fire station closures.
The main online consultation questionnaire is not affected.
Although paper responses represent a much smaller proportion of overall consultation responses, we want to ensure that everyone has a full and fair opportunity to comment on this point. We are therefore providing an additional opportunity for any resident, stakeholder or organisation to submit views specifically on alternative options, if you haven’t already done this on the electronic form.
You can do this in three ways:
- by completing a short online form via this link
- by using an updated paper form available at the eight fire stations being proposed for closure
- by emailing your comments to [email protected]
We want to reiterate; no decisions have been made on the potential closure of any station. All responses already received, together with any further comments submitted, will be considered as part of the overall consultation analysis and final decision-making process.
If you need this information in another format or language, or need help taking part (including a postal copy of the survey) please email [email protected] or call 01722 691000 (during office hours).
The consultation remains open until 5pm on 15 May 2026.
We apologise for this error and are taking this action to ensure the process remains fair, transparent and complete.
We know that proposing fire station closures will not be a welcome decision for our communities or staff.
However, the Fire & Rescue Authority has a statutory duty to set a balanced revenue budget. Our underlying funding position, specifically the recent finance settlement received from central Government, does not provide a sufficient level of funding for the Service to continue to operate as it is.
We are proposing the closure of eight fire stations across Dorset and Wiltshire, four in each county. No decisions have been made yet and, before anything happens, we want to hear what you think.
Take a look at the individual station pages for details of our consultation events. Please do get involved and share your views via our survey.
A consultation leaflet can be viewed below, or downloaded as a PDF using this link.
Why are changes being proposed?
Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Authority must provide a fire and rescue service that keeps people safe. To help us do this well, we regularly check how our service is working so we can use public money responsibly.
Over the past three years, we have looked at:
- how many incidents each station responds to;
- how removing a station might affect response times;
- how close each station is to another;
- how often on‑call fire engines are available; and
- how quickly nearby stations can help if needed.
From this first review, eight stations were identified for a closer look: Bradford on Avon, Charmouth, Cranborne, Hamworthy, Maiden Newton, Mere, Ramsbury and Wilton.
In the detailed analysis that followed (using data from 2019–2024), we investigated:
- how busy each station is;
- how fast and how often crews can respond;
- the financial impact of closing a station;
- whether nearby stations could cover the area;
- current and future risks in each community; and
- how our Service can meet changing needs.
The aim of these proposals is to strengthen the overall Service, use money wisely, and make sure we can continue to keep people safe across Dorset and Wiltshire.
What this doesn’t mean
We understand that talking about closing fire stations can be worrying, but want to reiterate that these proposals are not final decisions. We want to make sure we have listened to everyone before anything changes.
How to share your views
The public consultation is open from Friday 13 February until 5pm on Friday 15 May 2026.
You can take part by:
Attending a public or online meeting
We’re holding a meeting in every town or village affected, plus online sessions. Each station’s meeting details can be found here:
Completing the consultation questionnaire
Take the Survey
An independent organisation, Premier Advisory Group, is running the consultation and will write a full report for the Fire Authority. A final decision will be made by elected Members on Tuesday 30 June 2026.
Further information
To view the papers for the Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Authority meeting, which took place on 10th February, click here.