An official request has been made to the government to allow the merger of Dorset Fire Authority and the Wiltshire and Swindon Combined Fire Authority. The reason given for the merger is simply “to preserve frontline services”.
The two authorities say that funding cuts have made the running of small-scale fire and rescue services “unsustainable”.
If the request to the Local Government Secretary is successful the new fire authority will come into being on 1 April 2016.
It has been estimated that by 2017 the stand-alone Wiltshire service would be facing a £4.2m annual deficit and Dorset a £3.7m annual deficit.
If approved the single authority is expected to have a budget of around £55m.
Wiltshire Police face further £3million cut in central government funding
