Fire stations are to close

Four Black Country fire stations will close and be replaced by two new ones as part of a shake-up of the service in the West Midlands, it was announced today.

So-called "improvement plans" to build eight new fire stations in total but close 10 existing ones were announced by West Midlands Fire Service.

In the Black Country, the service will close Halesowen, Cradley Heath, Wednesbury and Smethwick stations and build one new station in the Halesowen-Cradley area and another in Wood Green, which is in Wednesbury near to the Walsall border.

The existing stations that would close under the plans would see with their fire engines moved to other current or new stations but fire chiefs have not ruled out a reduction in the number of posts through "natural wastage".

Staff were being briefed about the plans today and a period of public consultation will start tomorrow and run until January 7 so people can comment on the plans.

But one West Midlands firefighter who did not wish to be named said: "This is the first we've heard of this and will come as a big shock."

West Midlands Fire Service says the proposals have been drawn up after detailed research to identify better locations for fire stations and say it will result in improved overall response times.

Bosses at the service also say some of those stations being replaced are out-dated and in poor condition.

Fire service Chief Fire Officer Frank Sheehan said: "Our aim is to continually improve the service we provide to the community and we are constantly reviewing our resources to ensure they are used as effectively as possible."

New stations are also planned in Birmingham. Bosses say it is an overall plan for the next three-to-five years and no precise time-scales can be given.