Overview
- Chief Fire Officer Andy Cole says the service secured a one-off £1.8 million government grant and revised his professional advice to recommend all eight at-risk stations remain open, a development reported on June 19.
- The Dorset & Wiltshire Fire Authority will make a final decision at a meeting on June 30 after meeting papers are published on June 22.
- The recommendation is conditional on the authority being allowed to raise the council tax 'fire precept' to at least the national average for the 2027/28 year, which would provide recurring revenue rather than a one-off fix.
- Officials warn that the £1.8 million does not close the service’s long-term funding gap and that closures could proceed if the precept flexibility or other funding changes are not granted.
- Local councillors and Wiltshire’s leader have pressed the government for a funding review to reflect lower council tax base growth in rural areas and a separate government decision on precept flexibility is expected in February 2027.