A DECISION on the proposed closure of Ashburton Fire Station has been put back until early next year.

Fire chiefs were due to issue their verdict on the radical overhaul of the Devon and Somerset brigade – including the shutdown of Ashburton and seven other stations – at an authority meeting on December 18.

But now that has been cancelled because the date clashes with the aftermath of the December 12 General Election.

The all-important meeting – taking into account the response to a public consultation on the £8m savings revamp – is being re-scheduled for a date early in the new year.

An agreement to shift the meeting, which would have including altering some appliance numbers and shift patterns, was made by the fire authority at its meeting in Exeter earlier today.

Mike Pearson, director of governance and digital services, said in a report to the meeting, that the December 18 date for discussions would not have been fixed if the election call had been known.

Mr Pearson explained: ‘Since the publication of the agenda for this meeting of the authority, a snap General Election has been called for December 12.

‘An authority meeting within this period would have been avoided had the date been known at the time the meeting of the authority was set.’

He added: ‘Additionally, the service has received representations from representative bodies expressing concerns about the potential impact on staff welfare arising from any decisions on the consultation proposals being taken a few days prior to the Christmas break.

‘Taking account of these issues - and having consulted with the chair of the authority - it is proposed that the authority cancels its meeting scheduled for December 18.’

Authority chairman Sara Randall-Johnson said: ‘As a result of the snap General Election - and it being as close to the festive season as the meeting is - it is prudent to move it into the new year.’

Cllr Ann Bown was delighted that the pre-Christmas meeting was being switched to after the festive season.

‘It was inhumane to have it just before Christmas as we would be dealing with people’s lives. This meeting should be after Christmas so at least whatever we decide, they can enjoy their Christmas with their families.’

The authority unanimously backed the cancellation to allow a gathering to be re-scheduled early in 2020.

Campaigners in Ashburton had repeatedly called for the meeting to be held in the new year so Christmas could be celebrated with a degree of peace and harmony.

One said: ‘They’ve got one thing right at least. Now that can repeat that and throw out the closure of our station.’