SURREY’s cabinet member for fire services has refused to dismiss rumours fire stations across the county could be axed to help plug the county council’s “huge" budget shortfall.

Council leader David Hodge recently warned of cuts to services “that will have a huge impact on residents” unless a proposed 15 per cent hike to council tax is voted through in a referendum on May 4.

That prompted fears Surrey Fire and Rescue could be targeted for cuts, and Robert Evans, Labour councillor for Stanwell, asked at last Tuesday’s meeting of the county council if Surrey’s current number of 26 fire stations and 30 fire engines would be retained at the end of its current five-year financial plan in 2021.

Richard Welsh, cabinet member for localities and community wellbeing, said the council’s medium-term financial plan and budget situation was “unconfirmed at present”, adding: “It is not possible to say what the comparative figures may be by 2021”.

But Mr Evans was less than satisfied with the response, and accused his Tory counterpart of “hiding” behind the council’s five-year plan.

Mr Evans said: “Would it not be of interest to people voting in May’s county council elections to know which of their fire stations have the axe hanging over them?”

The Labour member also took aim at Tory council leader David Hodge on Tuesday, again criticising him for refusing to publish all correspondence between the council and the Government regarding Surrey’s current financial situation.

Defending his stance, Mr Hodge said it was “a bit rich” taking a lesson on transparency from a former Labour MEP, and advised Mr Evans to submit a Freedom of Information request.