Community Urged to Oppose Closure of Great Missenden and Stokenchurch Fire Stations and Save Our On-Call Firefighter

Residents, local leaders and firefighters have been shocked over Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service’s proposals t to permanently close Great Missenden and Stokenchurch fire stations and the remove or replace several On-Call fire engines across the county.

Tristan Ashby Chief Executive of the Fire and Rescue Services Association said:

‘We are appalled by these proposals which are an unfettered attack on those firefighters who work the on-call duty system. These firefighters provide a flexible and cost-effective service, not only covering remoter rural areas, but providing necessary resilience when the service is stretched. Our position is quite clear.

‘Successive government reports have highlighted the value of the on-call system and the need to protect it. In Buckinghamshire the proposals will result in increase response times, a reduction in resilience for major event, a loss of knowledge and community links.’

We are calling on BFRS to:

1. Keep Great Missenden and Stokenchurch fire stations open.
2. Retain On-Call fire engines as part of a reformed, modernised duty model.
3. Implement National Fire Chief Council -recommended improvements, including flexible availability options and modular training.
4. Work proactively with local employers and communities to improve recruitment and retention.
5. Pause all station closures and removal of appliances until national reform programmes have been fully delivered and evaluated.

The on-call is a cost-effective service that deserves investment, not cuts

The Fire and Rescue Services Association stands ready to work with the fire authority and other interested parties to determine alternative ways to meet their objectives without the wholesale ransacking of the on-call duty system.