Save Ward End Fire Station

Ward End Fire Station is under threat, and we need to act now.

The Fire Brigades Union has warned that options being considered by West Midlands Fire Service include closing and selling Ward End Fire Station, moving fire engines away from our area and reducing one vehicle from 24-hour cover to daytime-only operation.

For families across Ward End, Hodge Hill and the surrounding communities, this is not simply a question of buildings or budgets. It is about how quickly firefighters can reach us when somebody's home is on fire, when there is a serious road accident, or when lives are in immediate danger.

When an emergency happens, every minute matters.

If Ward End Fire Station closes, our community could be left relying on crews travelling from further away. If overnight cover is reduced, residents are right to ask what that could mean when an emergency happens in the middle of the night.

We should not wait until a final decision has been made before speaking up.

West Midlands Fire Service has said that no decision has yet been taken and that there are currently no formal proposals. That makes this the moment for our community to send a clear message:

Ward End Fire Station must stay open.

I recognise that our fire service faces financial pressures and must make difficult decisions about how resources are used. But savings should not come at the expense of frontline emergency protection in communities like ours.

As an Independent Candidate for Hodge Hill & Solihull North, I will stand with local residents and firefighters in calling for Ward End Fire Station to remain open and for our area to retain the emergency cover it needs.

This is our fire station. It protects our families, our homes and our neighbourhoods.

Once local emergency services disappear, getting them back can be incredibly difficult.

Please add your name today and help us demonstrate the strength of feeling across our community.