Local residents, incensed at the prospect of losing a fire engine or station, have started taking action to raise awareness of the severe cuts facing the local Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service crews.

Draft proposals, published last month, give the choice between removing one of the two on-call fire engines from Ross-on-Wye fire station (pictured above, left) or closing Whitchurch fire station (pictured above, right), as part of the Fire Authority's efforts to address its £4.7m budget shortfall. The Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP) is currently out to public consultation

Mr and Mrs Cook, who faced a traumatic fire at four flats in Broad Street, Ross, in February told the Gazette: "If two appliances had not been there the whole lot would have gone up. We have to make a stand – people's lives are at stake."

This week sees the launch of a petition to save the second engine at Ross as well as a Facebook page 'Ross on Wye Save our 2nd Fire Engine', detailing the case for Ross' appliance and information relating to the consultation process. Plans are also in motion to hand out leaflets in Ross to ask people to respond to the CRMP.

Residents of Whitchurch have also responded with their 'SAVE Whitchurch Fire Station' Facebook page.

Petitions in support of Ross and Whitchurch fire crews are available at many local shops and the Gazette office.

For the full story please see this week's Ross Gazette.