The extra fire engine housed at what has been described as a strategically significant site has been safeguarded from proposed cutbacks.

Liberal Democrat MP for Henley and Thame Freddie van Mierlo announced that the reserve fire appliance maintained in Thame would continue operating as part of Oxfordshire County Council’s draft fire service reduction strategy.

Meanwhile, the fire stations situated in Henley, Woodstock and Eynsham will remain operational, with the council expected to direct recruitment efforts toward filling staffing shortfalls.

The supplementary vehicle had been slated for removal as part of wider proposals to reorganise Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service.

Local residents, elected representatives and the Fire Brigade Union voiced objections, cautioning that cutbacks could result in deaths.

The consultation exercise drew significant public engagement, with close to 1,000 responses submitted, many stressing the importance of retaining Thame’s operational capacity.

The Henley and Thame MP expressed satisfaction that the council had taken notice of concerns raised by Thame residents, noting that the proposed changes had been presented as open to adjustment from the beginning and this had proven to be the case. He observed that Thame fire station occupies a pivotal position in one of Oxfordshire’s largest towns, situated close to the M40 and neighbouring areas of Buckinghamshire anticipated to experience substantial population expansion in the years ahead. Removing the second appliance at Thame never made sense given these circumstances, and through partnership with the town council and local councillors Kate Gregory and Judith Edwards, Thame would retain full crewing. Going forward, close coordination between Oxfordshire’s fire and rescue service and Buckinghamshire to reduce arrival times and preserve complete crew numbers would be vital.