Joe Merritt
People Improvement Plan Administrator at Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service - Salisbury, ENG, UK
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Andover,England,United Kingdom
Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service
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The new combined Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service came into being on 1 April 2016, and now serves the local authority areas of Bournemouth, Dorset, Poole, Swindon and Wiltshire.We embarked on the road to combination in December 2013, when the former Fire Authorities of Dorset and Wiltshire & Swindon agreed to develop a business case for a new Service. Following an extensive public consultation, and a thorough examination of all the benefits and potential risks, both Authorities agreed in November 2014 that combination should be pursued.As two small Fire and Rescue Services, we were vulnerable to outside pressures, and it was extremely difficult to make savings without impacting on frontline delivery. As one larger organisation, we have a stronger voice at a political level, and we will be an even more effective partner for our local authorities and other emergency services.As we settle into our new Service, our communities shouldn't see a lot of difference. We have the same number of fire stations, with the same number of fire appliances – all that's changed is the name and badge on the vehicles and the signage on our buildings.We are ‘passionate about changing and saving lives' – and we are excited by the possibilities that are now open to us as a larger Fire and Rescue Service.