Priti Patel, Member of Parliament for Witham, attended a public consultation event hosted by Essex County Fire and Rescue Service at Witham Town Hall, showing her support for the Service and encouraging residents to share their views on future fire and rescue provision across Essex.
The consultation formed part of Essex County Fire and Rescue Service’s recent public engagement programme, which has included a county-wide survey seeking feedback on proposed changes aimed at ensuring more fire engines are available during daytime hours.
During the event, Priti met with members of the Essex Fire and Rescue team, including Craig McLellan, Area Manager and Group Manager Dan Kirk to discuss the proposed changes, the importance of maintaining effective emergency response coverage, and the role that public feedback plays in shaping future service delivery. The consultation provided local residents with the opportunity to ask questions, share concerns, and contribute directly to decisions affecting community safety.
Speaking after the consultation, Priti Patel said:
“It was a pleasure to meet with representatives from Essex County Fire and Rescue Service to hear more about their plans and the work they are undertaking to strengthen emergency response across our county.
“Our fire and rescue services play a vital role in keeping our communities safe, and it is important that local residents have the opportunity to share their views on proposed changes that could affect how services are delivered.
“I would like to thank the firefighters, staff and volunteers of Essex County Fire and Rescue Service for their continued dedication and professionalism in serving communities across Essex, and I will continue to support efforts that ensure they have the resources and support needed to carry out their essential work.”
Area Manager Craig McLellan, from Essex County Fire and Rescue Service, said: “We were delighted to welcome Ms Patel, local councillors and residents to our consultation event in Witham to discuss our proposals to strengthen daytime fire engine availability across Essex. Hearing directly from residents and community representatives is an important part of shaping how we deliver our service in the future.
“Thank you to everyone who attended and shared their views. The feedback we received will help ensure our resources are in the right place at the right time to keep people safe.”
