A DECISION on revised plans for a new fire station on Green Belt land at Saughall Massie is expected to made tonight.

Councillors were due to discuss the proposal during a planning committee meeting on June 22.

But the matter was deferred for a site visit, which took place on Tuesday morning, and will be considered by committee during tonight's meeting at Wallasey Town Hall, which starts at 6pm.

Amendments to the scheme include:

  • Reducing the site's overall size by 30%.
  • Cutting the length of building by 30ft
  • Removing the access road to the west of the building
  • Moving planned car parking in a nearby close nearer the fire station

Planners say the proposal represents the "very special circumstances" needed to break Green Belt guidelines and are recommending approval.

Their report to be studied by councillors says: "Response times to the West Kirby area from the proposed fire station - and the increased rates of survivability related to those quicker response times - constitutes very special circumstances to outweigh the harm and justify inappropriate development in this particular case.

"The lack of any available alternative sites in suitable locations would further support this conclusion."

The original application was refused when it came before the planning committee in December when Labour chairwoman Cllr Anita Leech swung the decision by voting against the development.

The proposal is part of the fire service's drive to reduce spending to meet Government-imposed budget cuts.

It views closing West Kirby and Upton fire stations then merging them into a single site at Saughall Massie as a means of cutting costs.

However resistance to the controversial scheme appears to have increased since the last submission with a protest petition growing from 3,700 names to more than 4,000.

Leading campaigner Cllr Chris Blakeley told the Globe: "It's clear to me and local residents that despite the fire services amended application, the reasons for refusal in December are as valid for this application as they were for the previous refusal.

"In addition we do not believe that the very necessary special circumstances have been proven, particularly as they have alternative non green belt sites available including the existing Upton station which has served the west of Wirral for the last three years.

"I hope that when the planning committee meet they throw this application out once and for all."

Chief fire officer Dan Stephens told the Globe recently: "Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority has been forced to make changes to the way it delivers its services as a result of ongoing budget cuts over the last decade, and it must close West Kirby Community Fire Station to help achieve the necessary savings.

"The authority strongly believes building a new fire station at the site in Saughall Massie will provide the best overall emergency response to West Wirral in these circumstances.

"If the authority is not able to build in Saughall Massie residents and visitors to West Kirby, Hoylake, Newton and Meols will have to wait an additional two minutes on average for an emergency response to be sent from Upton.

"The response to people living in the Upton area will remain faster than the Merseyside average even after the new fire station is built.

"The Fire and Rescue Authority is in no doubt the additional two minutes will make a difference to chances of survival in a fire or other emergency."