A PETITION to keep Ellesmere Port's second fire engine has attracted thousands of signatures.

The petition, set up by Ellesmere Port and Neston MP Justin Madders, was launched last week in reaction to the publication of Cheshire Fire Authority's draft emergency response plans for the next four years.

In those plans, the authority is recommending one of the two fire engines at Ellesmere Port station would be transferred to Powey Lane, in order to allow a second fire engine to return to Chester city centre.

Cheshire Fire Authority insists Ellesmere Port is well covered by the engine based at Powey Lane.

It said: “The new fire station has been a huge success. It provides specialist capabilities and has significantly improved response times across a large area, including improved response to outlying areas such as Neston.

“Powey Lane fire station is 3.3 miles from Ellesmere Port Fire Station and its fire engine can respond to most of the Ellesmere Port area within 10 minutes.

“This change will maintain all of the benefits of the new fire station at Powey Lane whilst ensuring that response times in Chester and Ellesmere Port are amongst the best in Cheshire.”

But Mr Madders said: “Ellesmere Port is a growing town with more and more houses being built as well of course as a long standing large industrial base which needs fire cover.

"I know that a decade of austerity has hit the fire service hard and that they probably have less engines across the board than is ideal, but I am also convinced that there is a strong case for the retention of two engines in Ellesmere Port and that the people of this town should not be the ones who have to lose out again.”

Mr Madders gathered more than 400 signatures when out in Ellesmere Port town centre on Saturday, January 18, while nearly 3,000 have signed the petition at change.org.

Some of those signing online have added reasons as to why the fire engine should remain at Ellesmere Port.

One said: "There has been a lot of new housing around the area over the last few years and this is still increasing.

"We live near to major industries including petrochemical and recycling plants. One engine simply is not enough - especially as we have continuous traffic jams due to Cheshire Oaks and traffic going towards North Wales and Manchester – engines from other areas would struggle to get through on the event of a large fire.

"Removing an engine would, in my opinion, risk lives!"

Another added: "We need two appliances based in Ellesmere Port; housing has increased massively over the last few years and these people need to be kept safe with all of the industry on our doorstep."

The petition remains online and can be signed at www.change.org/p/cheshire-fire-authority-keep-the-second-fire-engine-at-ellesmere-port-fire-station. Alternatively, the petition can be signed by visiting Mr Madders's constituency office at 23 Whitby Road, Ellesmere Port.

Cheshire Fire Authority considered downgrading Ellesmere Port’s second fire engine in February 2018.

Members voted against the plans following strong opposition, and instead asked authority officers to consider whether the engine could be relocated to another station.

The proposal is included in Cheshire Fire Authority’s draft integrated risk management plan for 2020 to 2024, which goes to public consultation until Friday, March 20.