Documents from the Norfolk County Council communities committee held on 9 September indicate that if 25% of the service’s budget is cut, nine fire stations could close, including East Harling, Heacham, Hingham, Martham, Massingham, Mundesley, Reepham, Sheringham and Terrington.
 
The Council is looking to make a range of cuts across all its departments in an effort to plug a £111m funding shortfall over the next three years. Other areas likely to be affected include libraries and museums.
 
Council officers presented the communities committee with a number of options to consider in regard to future funding for the fire service.
 
Reepham fire station is also earmarked for closure along with 10 other one-pump retained stations if a 12.5% cut in the budget is pushed through.
 
With smaller budget reductions of 8% or 10% the station in Reepham may be spared for the present at least, but its longer term future could still be in jeopardy, despite a significant increase in population with the planned housing development proposals to 2026.
 
Councillors recognised that an 8% cut was likely to be the most suitable, saving around £2.2m, although this may not be enough to help reduce the large budget shortfall.
 
The full set of proposals will be considered by the council’s policy and resources committee on 26 October.
 
The fire station in School Road, Reepham, is a retained station with one appliance and a crew consisting of a watch manager, two crew managers and nine firefighters.
 
If the station in Reepham does close, some residents have already expressed concern about the possibility of having to wait in excess of 25 minutes before fire engines from Dereham or Aylsham get to Reepham to attend to house fires and road traffic accidents.
 
Although some way off being decided, the potential closure of the fire station in Reepham and sale of the County Council’s property could add to major changes already in place for School Road.
 
At 31 School Road, plans have been approved for the demolition of the garage/haulage depot and the erection of four dwellings with carports on the site of the former Reepham Motors. Notices have been issued stating that the garage is due for demolition from early October.
 
Opposite, at 32 School Road, next to the fire station, plans have been approved for the demolition of the Abb’s Garage premises and the erection of eight dwellings with garages.
 
It is understood the existing garage and business will most likely be closed before Christmas.
 

• What do you think about Norfolk County Council's plans to reduce the fire service budget and how it might affect the Reepham district? To post your comments on this news story, log in or register below.