Villagers back parish fire crew plan

Around 50 people who attended a meeting of Haworth Parish Council backed plans for a study into taking over the fire station, which is earmarked for closure.

Parish councillors are seeking support from neighbouring Keighley Town Council and Oxenhope Parish Council.

Haworth Parish Council chairman John Huxley said a community-run fire station covering the Worth Valley could be run by volunteer firefighters from the current base.

Fire and rescue officers have been supportive of the plan.

Coun Huxley stressed that he had “no idea” how much it would cost, hence the need for a feasibility study.

At a meeting earlier this week, a retired fireman predicted that the proposal would see a “Land Rover squirting water into a building until the real firefighters turn up.”

A report into the council proposals is expected before December 1.