Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Fire Authority appear to have given ground over the closure of the Great Holm Fire Station.

The Fire Authority have confirmed, in a written response to community campaigner Councillor Nolan, that Great Holm fire station will not be closed down until the new station is built and fully operational at West Ashlands.

Cllr Nolan, however is worried that the Fire Authority may not be able to deliver because it may need to sell the Great Holm Fire Station to fund the new one.

Cllr Nolan who represents Loughton and Shenley area has developed a reputation as an effective local councillor having led the campaign to keep Great Holm fire station open. She is now challenging the Fire Authority to prove it can stand by its public commitment to keep Great Holm open until West Ashlands is built.

Cllr Nolan said, “I welcome the commitment to keep Great Holm open until the new Fire Station is built. But I need them to be clear about how they will finance the new station. I would like to see them publish the figures so we can tell if keeping Great Holm open is genuine or just a tactic to buy off local opposition. I call upon the Fire authority to come clean on the financial arrangements.”

Cllr Nolan concluded, “The Fire Authority approach raises the question of what comes first, the horse or the cart. Do they need to sell Great Holm first? If they do then the paper upon which the commitment to keep it open is written on is meaningless. We need them to come clean.”