The firefighters’ union has protected local residents after the county council reversed its plan to close five fire stations.

As previously reported, Oxfordshire County Council has dropped its proposals to shut the Eynsham, Woodstock, and Henley stations following substantial opposition.

The proposed merger of Kidlington and Rewley Road (Oxford) stations into one new build in North Oxford has been paused for now.

For several months, the Fire Brigades Union has been arguing that these cuts to the service would put lives at risk while urging the council to change course.

Fire Brigades Union general secretary Steve Wright said the council’s U-turn on station closures and reductions proved what could be achieved through union action. A large majority of members voting for industrial action showed how strongly firefighters felt about cuts that endangered both crew and public. These plans would have severely limited fire cover across the county and put lives in danger. Because of members’ determination and unity, those cuts have now been stopped. Firefighters exist to protect the public, and that is exactly what members have achieved in Oxfordshire.

The campaign won strong support from both the public and elected representatives, with firefighters warning that removing stations, fire engines, and posts would leave the county severely exposed.

As well as the five stations at risk of closure, the council also proposed removing six fire engines and cutting 42 firefighter posts.

The union suggested this result should serve as a warning to other fire and rescue services considering similar cuts.

FBU southern executive council member Chris Wycherley said this success came from the courage and persistence of firefighters across Oxfordshire. From the beginning, members made clear these cuts would endanger their communities and they were ready to stand together to stop them. Public support had been extraordinary, showing just how much the fire service is valued. This result proves that when firefighters and communities work together, we can defeat dangerous cuts.

Henley MP Freddie van Mierlo said the recruitment and retention of on-call firefighters continued to present a significant challenge, including in Henley, which needed addressing. The consultation had highlighted response times in Henley, which currently fell short compared to other parts of the county. Proposals now needed to be developed that strengthened and invested in Henley fire station, ensuring its proper role as a hub for this distinctive part of Oxfordshire.

Rob MacDougall, chief fire officer for Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service, said it was clear residents wanted fire stations to stay open. Future proposals to be put before Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet would look at examining and improving recruitment at Eynsham, Henley, and Woodstock. The current aim was to increase on-call firefighter numbers and improve fire engine availability, according to Mr MacDougall.

Neil Fawcett, cabinet member for resources, said the consultation response had shown how vital the fire service was to local communities and how much residents valued the dedication and commitment of fire crews.