Legal challenge to PCC's fire authority takeover could be heard in coming months

Eric Carter, chair of Shropshire Fire Authority, who opposed the move, said he believed a decision on whether to allow a Judicial Review could be taken in the next few months.

Mr Carter said he hoped the judiciary “see sense” and allow the challenge.

It comes after former home secretary Amber Rudd made a decision in March to allow West Mercia’s police commissioner John Campion to take over the running of the Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service.

A public consultation backed Mr Campion’s plans but more than 70 per cent of people responded to a Shropshire Star poll saying they were against the idea.

Earlier this year it was announced that the fire authority had put £70,000 aside to fight the decision by requesting a judicial review – which challenges the process by which the original decision was made.

Councillor Carter said: “We are hoping we can be successful in overturning this.

“We had the full backing of the fire authority to make this move, it was all councillors from Tories, Lib Dems, Labour and independents.

“No one agrees with this decision, a Shropshire Star poll found that 78 per cent of people in the county didn’t want this to happen.

“We believe the whole process has been flawed, and hope that when it goes before a judge they will see sense and overturn it.”

Previously the fire authority has claimed the consultation process was flawed.

Councillor Carter added: “Our barrister has said we have a good case to overturn the decision.

“We wouldn’t have set money aside for this if we didn’t think we could get the right decision.”

Mr Campion said that his plans had been supported by the public and the government.

He said: “This judicial review is a legal dispute between the Fire and Rescue Authority and the Home Office.

“The central argument, that single governance in West Mercia can deliver more effective and efficient services for our communities, has been consistently supported via expert consultants, independent assessment, and by government. It has also been supported across Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin, as well as Worcestershire and Herefordshire. 61 per cent said they were in favour of single governance during consultation.”