New bid by campaigners to reopen Radlett fire station

THE CAMPAIGN to reopen a fire station which was closed two years ago has been reignited. Radlett fire station was closed in 2006 despite a big effort by local people prepared to raise private funding to keep it open. Two years on from the fire engine bein

THE CAMPAIGN to reopen a fire station which was closed two years ago has been reignited.

Radlett fire station was closed in 2006 despite a big effort by local people prepared to raise private funding to keep it open.

Two years on from the fire engine being taken away, Save Our Fire And Rescue (SOFAR) campaigners have been drumming up support by handing out flyers and car stickers on the streets of Radlett.

Campaigner Stephen Oakes-Monger, from Park Road in Radlett, said: "They based their closure on us having five house fires or big fires a year in Radlett but we have had in excess of seven every year since the station closed. And they also didn't take into consideration road traffic collisions - in April I knew of four that had fire engine attendances."

Stephen, whose great-grandfather was a founding member of the village fire station, gathered more than 7,000 signatures on a petition to reopen the station last year which he handed in at County Hall.

He has continued to press the matter with County Councillor Keith Emsall who is in charge of the county's fire and rescue service.

He said: "They are building more and more houses in the area and the roads are getting more clogged up. Every single person in Radlett signed the petition which was just brushed aside and I frankly don't think that is good enough."

Stephen added: "As long as the building remains there I will continue campaigning to get it open. I think they made a tragic mistake which is putting people's lives at risk. We are still paying for it in our council tax -- we have had no refund.