We, the undersigned residents of Willenhall and the surrounding communities, call on West Midlands Fire Service to reconsider proposals to change the current level of cover at Willenhall Fire Station to daytime-only cover.

Willenhall is a growing community and residents deserve access to a properly resourced fire and rescue service at all times of the day and night.

Fires and emergencies do not only happen during office hours. They can occur at any time, and when people are facing a fire or other life-threatening emergency, every minute matters.

Recent incidents across the West Midlands have demonstrated the devastating consequences that fires can have on families and communities. We are concerned that reducing overnight cover could have implications for response times and the ability to provide sufficient resources when multiple incidents occur at the same time.

Willenhall has experienced serious fires in our community, including a recent incident which destroyed the homes of elderly residents. On the same day as the major Stourbridge fire, resources were already under significant pressure, highlighting the importance of maintaining sufficient fire and rescue capacity across the West Midlands.

We therefore call on West Midlands Fire Service to:

Reconsider proposals to introduce daytime-only cover at Willenhall Fire Station.

Maintain an appropriate level of 24-hour fire and rescue provision for Willenhall and surrounding communities.

Fully assess the potential impact of any changes on response times, resilience and the ability to deal with simultaneous incidents.

Properly consider the needs of Willenhall's growing population and the risks faced by our local community.

Engage meaningfully with affected staff, trade unions, residents, businesses and community representatives before any changes are implemented.

Willenhall deserves a fire and rescue service that is available when our community needs it — day or night.