KENDAL Town Council has written to Cumbria County Council opposing proposals to cut one of Kendal’s two fire engines.

The letter states: “We accept that the number of traditional fires is falling. However, we believe the role of Kendal Fire Station in motorway accident provision has been overlooked.”

It said a ‘preferred option’ would be to close Staveley Fire Station, which has problems recruiting retained firefighters, and keep two vehicles at Kendal.

A county council spokesperson said the risk assessment it had carried out, which showed the number of callouts was on the decrease, took into account all incidents, not just fires.