CAMPAIGNERS are set to march through Dovercourt to demand the town’s full-time firefighters are spared the axe.

Harwich town councillors fear the area will be left with inadequate cover if Essex Fire Service goes ahead with any of its cost-cutting proposals.

The service has put forward three proposals that would all see the day-time crew at Dovercourt Fire Station downgraded to an on-call service.

It means full-time crews will be replaced with retained crews, which has prompted fears there would not always be enough on-call staff to crew the town’s four-man engines.

The council had called on residents in Harwich to choose the fourth choice – not supporting any of the options – in the consultation, which ended in April.

Harwich town councillor Ivan Henderson said a march would now be held ahead of Essex Fire Authority’s decision on the plans on June 8.

He said: “There has been tremendous support from local people for keeping our full-time firefighters, but we are still not convinced that the people who matter are listening.

“The march in Dovercourt will offer a timely reminder that we are taking this matter very seriously and those making the decisions need to listen.”

Campaigners will march from Cliff Park on June 4 at 10.30am, along Dovercourt High Street, Main Road and Fronks Road to Dovercourt Fire Station.

Andrew Erskine, councillor and former Essex Fire Authority member, called on the authority to “tweak” its proposals before the final decision.

A spokesman for Essex County Fire Service said: “The consultation we carried out was the largest we’ve ever conducted, with more than 17,000 people offering their views on a range of proposals for the future of the service.

“The results of this consultation will be presented to the members of the authority at its meeting on June 8 for debate and decision.”