Offerton fire station saved

Plans to shelve night and weekend cover at Offerton fire station have been canned after a massive campaign by the Liberal Democrats, which garnered thousands of signatures and objections to the plans.

The announcement came at this morning’s GMCA meeting, with Mayor Andy Burnham announcing that the plans had been withdrawn after the consultation resulted in a massive local campaign rejecting the plans.

Hazel Grove Parliamentary Candidate Lisa Smart said: “This is fantastic news coming out of the combined authority this morning, and it is thanks to all the local people who signed petitions, and who made objections, that we have won the campaign to keep night and weekend cover at Offerton fire station. Thank you all.

More than 1,200 people in the Hazel Grove constituency signed the Liberal Democrats petition against the closures, and councillors Lisa Smart and Will Dawson led a motion through Stockport Council opposing the closures. Local Liberal Democrats held meetings with the fire crews at the station, and public meetings with the local people who would have been affected by the changes.

Lisa said: “The fire and rescue service is a vital emergency service. Crews based at Offerton Fire Station perform an heroic task keeping our community safe.

“Every minute counts in an emergency, and keeping night and weekend cover in our community means people should be able to sleep more soundly at night, knowing that these crews are still on duty.”