Plans to close several fire stations in Oxfordshire have been withdrawn following strong public feedback, with new proposals now set to be considered by the cabinet at Oxfordshire County Council cabinet on 21 April 2026.
The revised approach comes after a public consultation led by Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service between October 2025 and January 2026, which gathered more than 1,000 responses from residents and stakeholders.
Feedback highlighted overwhelming support for retaining local fire stations, particularly in Eynsham, Henley and Woodstock, all of which had previously been considered for closure due to low availability of on-call crews.
Under the new proposals, the focus will shift towards improving recruitment and strengthening community engagement at these stations, rather than closing them. The service will also continue exploring ways to improve daytime fire engine availability, when demand and risk are typically highest.
Chief Fire Officer Rob MacDougall said:
“I’d like to thank everyone who shared their views on our proposals during the public consultation. We received over a thousand responses, and it was important that we listened carefully to what people told us.
“It’s apparent, having read and listened to those who gave us their feedback, that local people are keen to support existing fire stations in their towns and villages.”
Further engagement with staff and the Fire Brigades Union will take place to refine how the updated plans can be implemented in practice.
Additional proposals include withdrawing plans to remove a second fire engine at Thame fire station, allowing more time to assess consultation feedback and consider nearby service provision, including at Haddenham.
Plans for a new fire station north of Oxford have also been paused due to ongoing uncertainties around development negotiations.
Existing facilities, including Rewley Road fire station and specialist resources at Kidlington, will remain unchanged for now.
Neil Fawcett, Cabinet Member for Resources, said:
“The strength of feeling for retaining community fire stations is crystal clear… Maintaining prompt emergency response times and community safety are at the heart of our thinking and planning.”
The council has emphasised its commitment to working with communities and firefighters to deliver a more resilient and effective fire and rescue service across Oxfordshire.
