A PUBLIC meeting will be held tonight to discuss the proposed closure of Wirral fire stations.

More than 150 people were unable to get into last week’s meeting as there was not enough room at the venue.

Taking place at St Mary's Centre on Saughall Massie Road, Upton, it was the first of three to be held as part of a 12-week consultation on the plans.

The 120 who made it in, before health and safety regulations prohibited allowing any more, heard Merseyside's chief fire officer Dan Stephens outline proposals which include merging West Kirby and Upton fire stations at a site in Saughall Massie Road.

Another option is the outright closure of West Kirby station and relocating crews to Upton.

The second public meeting will take place in Woodchurch today, Tuesday.

It will be held at Holy Cross Church community rooms from 6.30pm.

Chief Fire Officer Dan Stephens said: "We have to make structural changes to emergency response cover across Merseyside in order to deliver the savings required following grant cuts.

"I am of the professional view that a merger in West Wirral would deliver a less impactive operational outcome than the outright closure of West Kirby or any other option open to the Fire and Rescue Authority.

"I encourage people to take part in our consultation, attend the public meetings, read the information about the proposals on our Service website and fill in our questionnaire. We want to hear your views."

The outcomes of the consultation will be reported back to the Authority for a definitive decision in June.