HEREFORD and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service has just been given over £4 million from the government t o move its headquarters and merge three fire stations.

£1.89 million from the government's Transformation Fund is earmarked for relocating the fire service head office from Charles Hastings Way, near the hospital, to the police HQ at Hindlip Hall.

And another £2.38 million will also merge its fire stations in the Wyre Forest - KIdderminster, Bewdley and Stourport - on to one site. No indication is given as to where the merged station may be located, but it is described as a "new fire station".

Cllr Derek Prodger, chairman of the fire authority, said: "Both of these proposals will be subject to approval by the fire authority and an initial report will be brought as soon as possible.

"Once detailed proposals have been worked up, there will also need to be consultation with staff, representative bodies and in respect of the Wyre Forest proposal, widespread public consultation before any final decisions are taken.

"I have no doubt there will be concerns expressed among local communities at the thought of closing and relocating fire stations in the Wyre Forest and we will therefore need to provide the necessary reassurance to the public as part of any consultation exercise."

Cllr Richard Udall, another member of the fire authority, said: "I am pleased that we have been successful in making these grant applications.

"It is not often that the fire service in Hereford and Worcester can gain anything from this government. We have been starved of resources for the past four years, putting the service and the public at risk."

“Moving the headquarters to Hindlip would free up some resources which could protect the service in the years ahead. We no longer need our current headquarters; we are under-occupying the site. I just hope we can come to an arrangement with the police that will meet our needs”.

“Combining the fire stations in the Wyre Forest onto one site is not about service reduction, it is about making the service more efficient. However, we need to test the proposals to ensure that no community is left at risk.

"I am not interested in reducing the fire service, any changes which improve efficiency must be safe. If we don’t gain those assurances, we will not be supporting the changes."