The Conservative Hertfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner David Lloyd wants to expand his remit to cover Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service and changes made by the Conservative Government have allowed him to apply for this to happen. It’s currently being considered by the Government and we await their announcement.

But while this is a decision that Welwyn Hatfield Borough, Hertfordshire County, and Hatfield Town Councils are against unanimously – it is of course a decision that will be taken by the Government itself.

Councillors have criticized the plans, fearful that the ‘savings’ mentioned in the Commissioners plans are simply cuts that he intends to make. And those fears have been realised with the news that he intends to close both Hatfield and Welwyn Garden City Fire Stations and relocate the service to Herts Police HQ at Stanborough.

Conservative MPs from all areas of Hertfordshire have previously written to the County Council, to express their support for the Police and Crime Commissioners bid to take over the service, in particular the “modernization of it’s estate”.

That letter was written nearly a year ago, and now we know that the ‘modernisation of its estate’ means the closure of fire stations and building flats on top of them, Welwyn Hatfield needs its local MP to stand up and speak out against the takeover of Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service.

If Welwyn Hatfield’s own MP doesn’t change his mind on this and listen to concerned residents (and Councillors) there is little chance the Government will.

Come on Grant, get on board with every single other elected politician in Welwyn Hatfield, change your mind and fight for our Fire Stations!

If you want to hear first-hand what these plans mean for Welwyn Hatfield, come to the public meeting in Hatfield on 2^nd August at Roe Hill Hall at 7.30pm