OPPOSITION is mounting to plans for the Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner to take over responsibility for fire services and combine them with West and East Sussex.

The move is part of national fire service reforms unveiled in May. Sussex PCC Katy Bourne said emergency services would have an increased duty to collaborate under the new bill, but West Sussex County Council said it already had an excellent model.

Hardening its stance, the county council launched ‘Safer in Our Hands’ campaign at the last full council meeting today in response to the PCC plan to take over West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, which is currently under the council’s control. Communities across West Sussex are being asked to back the new campaign that will keep their fire crews working for them.

There was cross-party support for a motion stating: “This council recognises the benefits for our residents of the integration of the fire and rescue service with other vital council services and its close working with partners. The service is democratically accountable and we believe the model we are operating in West Sussex is the right one for our county and the communities we serve.”

As well as fire-fighting, the service works directly with community groups preventing fires and accidents, and across towns and parishes in the county identifying vulnerable older residents.

Members work with trading standards teams to help address the growing problem of scams, provide schemes to help young people in times of trouble and step in to support communities to prevent problems like flooding.

They also carry out thousands of home fire safety checks and visit hundreds of schools.

Launching the campaign, Wexst Sussex leader Louise Goldsmith, said: “I’ve always been of the belief that if something is right, you have to fight for it. That is why I am really determined to do all I can to keep this excellent service, which provides so much to our residents in so many ways. Please support us and put your name to our petition.”

• Residents can show their support by signing an online petition at www.westsussex.gov.uk/haveyoursay, or filling in a form in September’s West Sussex Connections magainze and returning it to the council. For more information see www.westsussex.gov.uk/saferinourhands