The backing of members now means all stations, including Hamworthy, are recommended to remain open under revised recommendations from the chief fire officer.
The news follows updated financial advice from chief fire officer Andy Cole, who said Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service has secured a one-off £1.8 million government grant to support “innovation, data, technology and service improvement”.
Andy Cole, chief fire officer for Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service (Image: DWFRS)
Mr Cole said: “Since the Members Working Group met in early June, I have received further information in relation to our funding position which means I have made a further amendment to my professional advice to them.
“I’ve been looking at every opportunity available to improve the service’s financial position and remove the need for station closures and job losses.
“One of those opportunities was a bid to government for funding to support work we have been doing around innovation, data, technology and service improvement.
“I am really pleased that this has been successful and secured the service £1.8 million of one-off government funding, which we will receive imminently.
“This one-off funding does not resolve the authority’s long-term financial position and we continue to face a deficit in future years, however it does provide more time for the service to make changes through our modernisation programme.”
Neil Duncan-Jordan, MP for Poole, said: “Residents may have heard that the chief fire officer has now revised his recommendations and will be advising the fire authority to keep Hamworthy fire station open, for at least another year.
“The fire authority will make the decision on June 30.
“It is a welcome reprieve and we will need to keep up the pressure to ensure the long-term future of the service in our area.”
The recommendation to keep all eight stations open, including Hamworthy, is conditional on the authority being granted the flexibility to raise its council tax precept to at least the national average for fire services for the 2027/28 financial year.
The final decision will be made by the fire authority on June 30, following publication of meeting papers on June 22.
If the required financial conditions are not met, all eight fire stations will be closed.
The other stations affected by the proposal are Bradford on Avon, Cranborne, Charmouth, Maiden Newton, Mere, Ramsbury, and Wilton.