PEOPLE-power in Wirral has forced a spectacular U-turn over plans to build a new fire station on council-owned land.

Town hall leader Phil Davies has pulled the plug on the proposal to site the new station at Frankby Road in Greasby.

The proposal had caused a public outcry, with several hundred protestors turning up to recent consultation meetings to let their views be known.

Councillor Davies said he has now asked officers to “widen the scope" of the search and to look at alternative sites in the Greasby area.

He said: “Due to the savage cuts to Merseyside Fire and Rescue authority’s budget by the Tory-led Government, the chief fire officer has had to recommend the closure of Upton and West Kirby fire stations and the building of a new fire station in Greasby.

“Having listened to the views of local residents in Greasby and representations made by Labour’s Parliamentary candidate in Wirral West, Margaret Greenwood, I believe the council-owned land in the centre of Greasby would be inappropriate for a fire station and would remove a much-loved local green space.

“The chief fire officer has been notified of my decision on this matter and he has been assured that council officers will continue to work with him to identify an alternative site elsewhere in the greater Greasby area.”

Dan Stephens said: “Our priority is and always has been to secure a site that will deliver the best response times achievable in the circumstances to the existing Upton and West Kirby station areas and I am very grateful to our colleagues at Wirral Council for their assistance in this regard.”

Ward councillor Tom Anderson congratulated residents: "This is a victory for Greasby. Thousands of local people have battled the council over plans to bulldoze through the Village, making way for a new super fire station and finally common sense has prevailed"

Wirral West MP Esther McVey said: "The huge turnout at public meetings, 2,000-strong petition and formation of an action committee are testament to the determination in Greasby to fight this prospect.

"It is very good news that Wirral Council has listened to us all and withdrawn the offer of land in the centre of Greasby, even before the consultation period was over."

Greasby householder and landlord of the Greave Dunning, Jon Newton, welcomed the news: "It’s a bit rich for Labour to claim credit when it was their proposal in the first place.

"It would be like starting a fire so you take credit for putting it out afterwards."