The following email has been received from Surrey County Council and is self-explanatory. Readers are being asked to submit their views on the proposal to reduce the number of fire stations within Spelthorne from two to a single, centralised facility.

I am writing to ask for your input on important proposals regarding how fire and rescue services will be provided in the Spelthorne area.

As you may recall, in Surrey Fire and Rescue Authority’s Public Safety Plan for 2011 – 2020, we proposed changing the way fire stations in Spelthorne are crewed and also the location of some of our fire stations in order to achieve a more balanced level of emergency cover across Surrey.

Currently there are two fire stations in Spelthorne – Staines and Sunbury – both providing 24-hour emergency cover with one fire engine each. To continue to provide an effective fire and rescue service within the resources available, the Service now needs to consider the provision of one fire engine in Spelthorne, located more centrally within the Borough.

The benefits of this proposal are the more efficient use of resources across the whole of Surrey and the provision of a new, modern fire station.

Today (5 August 2013), marks the start of a thirteen-week consultation with residents, businesses, staff and unions. Further details about the proposed changes are available at www.surrey-fire.gov.uk/psp.

Please do take the time to give us your views via the online questionnaire and encourage your local residents to do the same. Please contact us if you require postal questionnaires. You can also feedback via these additional channels:

• Email comments to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• Write to us at: Public Safety Plan team, Surrey Fire and Rescue Service, Croydon Road, Reigate, Surrey RH2 0EJ
• Call us on 03456 009 009
• Minicom: 020 8541 9698
• SMS: 07527 182 861
• Fax us on 01737 222857

Your feedback and our analysis will be presented to Surrey County Council’s Cabinet at the end of 2013 for decision.

I would like to take this opportunity to personally reassure all our stakeholders that we will continue to work together to provide essential and excellent fire and rescue services throughout the borough. The safety of the public and our firefighters is, and always will be, the top priority for our service.

Kay Hammond                        
Cabinet Associate Fire and Police Services
Surrey County Council