OUTRAGED campaigners claim plans to change night-time cover at Bromsgrove Fire Station will risk lives.

Join the debate by voting in our online ballot on claims response times will be dangerously extended by the controversial proposal.

Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service plans to introduce 'on-call' manning to the fire station for night shifts.

The proposals would mean firefighters are based at home during nights but have to race to the station to clamber aboard a fire engine when an emergency alert is paged to them.

HWFRS says it has been forced into the move by a high court ruling but a petition calling for the plans to be scrapped has already reached 500 signatures.

Harrison Rone-Clarke, a Barnt Green parish councillor and Labour candidate for Rock Hill, has set up the petition.

He said: "This proposal could potentially result in response times at our fire station skyrocketing from 90 seconds to eight or nine minutes.

"This could mean a fire causes more damage and risks more lives. We must oppose this change unwaveringly."

One comment in support of the petition said: "It's absolutely ridiculous that an emergency service can be run by calling fire fighters from their homes."

A HWFRS statement said: "Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service is required to change the current Day Crewing Plus (DCP) shift systems at Hereford, Worcester, and Bromsgrove Fire Stations, in response to a high court ruling.

"This affects only two out of four full-time appliances at Hereford and Worcester stations and one full-time appliance at Bromsgrove.

"Over the last three years, with the full cooperation of the crews, these three stations have successfully operated a duty system.

"However, following a challenge from the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) the High Court recently ruled such systems were unlawful, as without a local agreement in place, it contravenes some of the Working Time Regulations (WTR) – specifically about night-time working and daily rest periods."

Chief Fire Officer Nathan Travis said: "The Fire Authority will ensure, following the consultation process, all our communities continue to be appropriately protected, and that existing wholetime and on-call crews are able to combine their skills, knowledge, and experience to deliver the required change."