All members on the FIRE AND COMMUNITY SAFETY panel have voted to close Shanklin fire station this evening (Tuesday July 13).

The recommendations come as part of the modernisation of the Fire Service on the Isle of Wight.

Council leader David Pugh stood down whilst the matter was discussed by the remaining seven members after declaring a personal interest in the matter because he lives in Shanklin and knows some of the fire fighters who faced losing their jobs.

The well-attended meeting chaired by deputy council leader George Brown took questions from the public about their concerns on blue light response time.

The closure of the fire station in Shanklin could take up to a year before coming into force.

Councilor Barry Abraham Cabinet Member for Fire & Community Safety confirmed there had been talks with the St Johns ambulance service and Island police chiefs to help find the funding to build a new base station in Lake. These talks are still at an early stage he said.