A RETIRED firefighter with 30 years’ experience across St Helens has spoken of his fears for the public’s safety in the face of plans to close stations.

Jim Stevenson said he doesn’t think the majority of people are aware how they will be affected if plans to shut Parr Stocks and Millfields in Eccleston gets the green light.

They are part of proposals put forward by Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority which it says needs to save £6.3m, just over half which will come from emergency response.

A consultation period into proposed changes to fire cover in St Helens has now closed.

These are to close Eccleston and St Helens fire stations and build a new one on Canal Street in the town centre.

The alternative plan is to close Eccleston.

The station in Newton will remain open.

Jim, 62, from Garswood attended one of the consultation meetings at St Helens Town Hall. He said: “My concern is for the safety of people in St Helens if there is just one pump. If it is one crew of five they are going to be very busy.

“If you have a fire in the middle of the night normally you would get two pumps. One crew goes upstairs and the other downstairs.

“The area they have to cover is from Mill Lane in Widnes to Kings Moss in Billinge.

“People expect firefighters to be there when they need them and it’s sad to see them being decimated.”

Jim claims the service is also hampered by a multi million pound PFI re-payment bill after building a new station in Newton.

A spokesman from the fire service said whichever proposal is chosen one of the two current fire engines will remain available 24-hours-a-day and the second will be available on a 30-minute recall. He added: “It will also provide cover during periods of high demand."

Chief Fire Officer Dan Stephens said: “Unfortunately we have no choice but to make structural changes in order to deliver the necessary savings.”