Mel Stride MP paid his fourth visit to Ashburton Fire Station in recent months to meet with crew manager Don Distin and local Teignbridge Councillor Sarah Parker-Khan on Friday (06/03/20). The trio worked closely to keep the fire station open after the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Authority had planned to close it as part of a major restructuring. Their arguments for keeping it open, which included access to the A38 as well as to the more rural communities on Dartmoor, proved successful and the final restructuring proposals has left Ashburton Station operating as it was.
Speaking after their visit Mr Stride said:
“Although we are both delighted with the fire authority listening to local opinion and keeping the station open, neither of us want to rest on our laurels and we will continue to stay in touch to make sure the issue doesn’t resurface. We also discussed the issue of the prioritisation of personnel cover when Ashburton Fire Station is short-staffed compared to other fire stations and I will be writing to the authority to seek answers on that.”