Fourteen West Midlands fire stations face reduced cover under proposed plans

Coventry City councillor Ed Ruane, who represents Henley Ward and sits on the region’s fire authority, said the review was about realigning resources rather than cutting them.

He said the service faced challenges including an ageing estate, a changing risk landscape and a lack of capital funding.

“These changes are not being considered in order to fill a hole in the budget, but to allow investment in new training facilities, safer, more modern fire stations and to make more resources available during the daytime and busier summer months when the service knows risk and demand is greatest,” Ruane said.

One option under consideration in Coventry would increase staffing at the city’s fire station by four firefighters. Councillor Ruane said this could allow a Brigade Response Vehicle to be upgraded to a fully crewed fire engine, reducing the need to move resources into the city from elsewhere.

West Midlands Fire and Rescue Authority was due to report back on its scrutiny of the proposals on 14 December, when it would decide which options should proceed to public consultation between January and March 2027.

The FBU said it had begun engaging authority members and local MPs, and was arranging meetings with affected branches to develop its formal response.

A West Midlands Fire Service spokesperson said the plans were “initial, data-led ideas” being discussed with staff and could change following their feedback.

It said any suggestion the changes had been decided was “unhelpful speculation”.

“This is a process to be carried out correctly, not quickly, and as such we are taking a phased approach starting with our staff. To comment on specifics ahead of confirmation of proposals by West Midlands Fire and Rescue Authority for public consultation would be premature,” the service said.