A PETITION featuring 2,700 names of people against the impending closure of Bewdley Fire Station has been presented to the fire service.

Work on the new £7million Wyre Forest Hub is nearing completion, meaning fire crews from Stourport, Bewdley and Kidderminster will soon be moved to Station Road.

But campaigners, including members of the Fire Brigades Union and Wyre Forest Labour, want the plans paused until a new risk assessment and public consultation is carried out.

They say data used in the last consultation is now out of date, and are concerned the move will increase response times and put people's lives at risk.

Kidderminster Shuttle:

A petition was presented to Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service on Tuesday.

Labour spokesman Stephen Brown said: "All credit to local residents who support our campaign.

"They signed the petition because they understand the increased risks to life that the fire service, in their management speak, seem keen to bat away in order to pursue this ill-conceived plan to close Bewdley Fire Station.

"This is not the end of the campaign, we are looking to hold another public meeting and possibly lobby Parliament.

"We will keep going until this decision to close Bewdley Fire Station, that will lead to worse outcomes for Bewdley residents, is reversed.

"Politicians and fire service take note.”

Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service said it will consider the petition and respond in due course.

A spokesman said: "The decision to relocate the existing fire appliances, resources and crews of Bewdley, Kidderminster, and Stourport-on-Severn fire stations into the proposed Wyre Forest Emergency Services Hub was made back in October 2016.

"This followed a full public consultation from July 4, 2016 to September 9, 2016 and all responses and feedback were analysed and reported by an independent organisation.

"Then, the Fire Authority concluded that a hub station will continue to provide effective fire cover for the Wyre Forest area in a more sustainable and cost-effective way than at present.

"In addition, it will provide state of the art accommodation, training and response facilities fit for the 21st century.

"The new Wyre Forest Hub is a central base for Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service, together with the police, and some voluntary emergency response organisations.

"There is no reduction in the number of fire engines. Instead of being in different locations across the Wyre Forest area, services will come together on a single site to co-operate more closely and effectively."