MP takes decision to Home Secretary as he condemns Fire Authority deciding to close Copnor Fire Station

12/02/2008

Mike Hancock, Lib Dem MP for Portsmouth South has roundly condemned the decision today by Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority to close Copnor Fire Station. The vote saw 9 (out of 9) Lib Dem councillors and 2 Conservatives vote to save it. 11 Conservatives and two Labour Councillors (out of 2 present, one was absent at a hospital appointment) voted to close it including the Labour Councillor from Portsmouth on the Authority, Cllr David Horne who did a U-turn. On 26th September 2007 Cllr Horne voted for a reprieve for the station. And he has previously backed a motion at the City Council calling for Copnor to be kept open. Mike Hancock said: “I am absolutely disgusted and appalled at the decision. Everyone in Portsmouth had united to say it should stay – including until today Labour Councillors. Now Conservatives and Labour have voted to close it. Even on the Fire Chief’s own figures, a large part of Portsmouth will have a worse service with Copnor closed. We are an island with major traffic problems and the second heaviest populated city outside of London.” “Last week at the Copnor by-election Conservatives were putting out leaflets saying the Conservatives would save Copnor Fire Station. This week they have voted to close it. They say one thing in Portsmouth and another when they go and make decisions affecting the city in Eastleigh. It is clear that you cannot believe one word that the Conservatives say. Cllr Horne from Labour should also now hang his head in shame – he and his Labour colleagues have condemned Portsmouth to a worse fire service.”

“The Labour MP for Portsmouth North much of whose constituency is in the area covered by the Copnor Station should now explain the actions of her Labour councillor colleagues on the authority.”

Cllr Gerald Vernon-Jackson, leader of Portsmouth City Council joined Mr Hancock in condemning the decision. He said: “This is a very sad day for the whole of Portsmouth. The Authority consulted with people in Portsmouth – they all, virtually without exception said that they wanted the station to be kept open. The Chairman of the Authority refused to come to listen to the people of the city. He and most of his Conservative colleagues have continued to do that today. It shows that the consultation exercise was the sham most thought it to be. I am also very disappointed that Cllr Horne having continually said he would support the station – today changed his mind.”

Mike Hancock is now making an urgent demand of the Home Secretary to review the decision. He has written to her saying they should look at how the decision was made. Mike said: “I can’t believe that ministers can believe that this decision was made in the right way. It is clear the consultation was almost completely in favour of keeping the station open. The figures from the Fire Service itself show that fire cover will suffer if Copnor is closed. We only have three routes on and off Portsea Island and major issues with things like the Naval Base. ”

“I have been fighting the proposal to close Copnor Fire Station over many years. There is no doubt that this is a very serious blow to the campaign to keep it open. But I will pursue every possibility however remote to keep it open.”