We, the undersigned, call on Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Authority to withdraw Hamworthy Fire Station from the closure consultation and to abandon any proposal to close it.

Hamworthy Fire Station provides essential emergency cover not only for Hamworthy, but also for Upton, Lytchett Minster, Turlin Moor and the wider Poole area. Closing it would put residents at unacceptable and avoidable risk.

The fire authority’s own report admits that closure would mean:

• Slower response times to fires, road traffic collisions, and life‑risk emergencies
• 800 additional mobilisations for Poole Fire Station over five years
• Reduced resilience across the whole area

However, the report fails to consider the real‑world risks our communities face every day:

• Twin Sails Bridge failures, Old Town Bridge closures, and heavy congestion regularly delay emergency vehicles
• Severe flooding around Lytchett Minster and the Bakers Arms roundabout, which will also cut off Wareham Fire Station from reaching Upton and Hamworthy
• The rceent heath wildfires, which burned around five hectares, required multiple crews from Poole, Hamworthy, and Wareham
• Climate‑driven risks such as flooding and wildfires are increasing, not decreasing
• If Poole’s appliances are already dealing with another emergency or if incidents occur in clusters, response times to our area increase dramatically

Addressing recruitment challenges should be addressed through modern, flexible on‑call arrangements, rather than closing a station.

The proposed financial savings are modest compared to the potential human cost of slower emergency response.

For the safety of our residents, our infrastructure, and our environment, we urge Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Authority to remove Hamworthy Fire Station from the consultation and ensure it remains operational as a vital part of our emergency response network.

Cllr Charlie Squires - Lytchett Minster and Upton West