NO COMPELLING DATA FOR STATION CLOSURE

HENLEY’S MP has said that the evidence provided as part of a public consultation does not justify the potential closure of the town’s fire station.

It is the first time Freddie van Mierlo has commented on the proposals by Oxfordshire County Council, which is looking to improve Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service.

The Henley station, in West Street, is one of three that could go due to “persistent low fire engine availability”.

Mr van Mierlo’s comments come after about
100 protesters gathered outside County Hall in Oxford on Tuesday against the proposed cuts to the service.

The Fire Brigades Union has said that firefighters in the county are exploring the option of balloting for industrial action and called on the council to halt its consultation process.

The county council has refused to do this and says its aim is to better match cover to high-risk areas and “futureproof” the service.

Mr van Mierlo told the Henley Standard that he had asked for further detail about the projected impact on response times as the public data did not show these would be kept routinely low should the closure go ahead.

“My starting point has been simple,” he said. “If the changes deliver an overall improvement for the county – including the Henley and Thame constituency – without reducing cover for Henley, then they should at least be considered.

“So far, compelling data to prove this can be achieved has not been provided. Travel times from other stations into Henley could be significant and I need reassurance that the service can meet its response standards under any new model.”

Mr van Mierlo said that removing Henley fire station would mean that the town and surrounding villages would be served “wholly by Reading” or a new station the council is proposing to build at Crowmarsh.

He said: “Caversham Road is the nearest in Reading but that’s not always available. The next nearest after that is Wokingham Road, several minutes further away. At night, when Crowmarsh switches to on-call, Henley would rely fully on Berkshire.

“The case for closing Henley is not clear cut and if Henley is going to rely on Berkshire or Crowmarsh, it must be proved that response times can be routinely low and not spike should there be a lack of availability or heavy traffic.”

He added: “I want to ensure that residents in Henley and the wider constituency have the same level of protection they do now or better. I’ve found the fire service leaders willing to listen. Keeping Henley open is on the table.”