CONTROVERSIAL plans to build a new fire station on green belt land in Wirral have been given the go-ahead.

Merseyside fire authority voted unanimously to approve the scheme when it met this afternoon.

The proposal will see West Kirby and Upton fire stations being closed and a new purpose-built unit set up in Saughall Massie.

Ward councillor Chris Blakeley said the fight against the scheme will be redoubled when it reaches the next hurdle of winning planning approval.

He said: "This decision had already been reached before the committee sat down today, it is no surprise at all.

"We're disappointed but we believe we have enough ammunition to stop this invasion of our green belt when it comes through the planning process."

The fire service says merging Upton and West Kirby fire stations will save 22 full-time firefighter posts, saving £864,000 a year.

Chief fire officer Dan Stephens told the meeting there would be no station closures if it were it up to him, but blamed Government budget cuts for forcing his hand.

Mr Stephens told the Globe: "The reality of the situation is that there was no other available site.

"As a direct result of the ongoing cuts to our budget, we can no longer afford to employ the current level of firefighters or keep all our fire stations open.

"We have had to make some very difficult decisions in order to maintain the best possible response times to life risk incidents in Merseyside in the circumstances.

"We will now submit a planning application to the council."

Wirral West Labour MP Margaret Greenwood - who had fought to save West Kirby and Upton stations - told the Globe: "This is bad news for the people of Wirral West.

"The only two fire stations in the constituency are to close because of cuts imposed by central government on Wirral.

"This will lead to longer response times to call outs in West Kirby. In the event of a fire or road traffic incident, people will have to wait longer for a fire engine to arrive.

"It also means a further reduction in the number of fire engines in this part of Wirral from two to one. Merseyside has suffered huge cuts over the last five years. 

"In 2010 there were 42 fire engines on Merseyside; now there are 24. This latest cut has real implications for public safety.

"We all hope we never have to call the fire service, but let’s be clear: the Tory cuts are whittling away at our essential services."

Wallasey Conservative councillor Lesley Rennie voted for the merger and said: "I believe we made the right decision for the safety of 26,000 residents in West Wirral.

"it was not an easy decision to maka and a lot of people were opposed to the plan.

"With reduced funding, merger was the only option left on the table."

Authority chairman Cllr Dave Hanratty said: "It is with a heavy heart that this merger has to go through but following unprecedented budget cuts from a Conservative Government we can no longer continue to keep the number of fire stations open that we currently have.

"These are very tough choices and they are not taken lightly.

"A lot of thought and consideration has gone into this decision by all members othe authority.

"We will request now that the land for the planned station be released to the authority.

"The design of the station will be finalised and submitted to the planning department of Wirral Council and, in that planning process, those residents who may be affected in the area also have an opportunity to comment."