Bovingdon’s 100 year old fire station suffered a body blow last month when Hertfordshire County Council voted to close it. A public consultation that raised thousands of letters, emails and signatures on petitions, with strong support from David Gauke MP, failed to change the minds of the Chief Fire Officer, the cabinet member for fire or the Leader of the Council. 
The assumptions that there were no increased safety risks to the villages were challenged by the superb and meticulous work carried out by the Action Group. Support also came from Flaunden, Chipperfield and Bovingdon Parish Councils and Dacorum Borough Council. Although a low risk area, Bovingdon provided the cover when it was needed, when there was a fire, when there was a car smash, when there was an emergency. That front line cover came from the heart of the community, a mixture of tradition, pride, support and care.
The crew led by James Fyfe have over 150 years experience between them. They spent days supporting the Buncefield operation and more recently were one of many crews that helped put out the tyre fire on Long Lane. Village events were attended to hand out safety information and school children were regularly invited to see how the engine worked and learn about the dangers of fire.
Bovingdon Station has been vulnerable for many years and last year got caught in the crossfire between covering the cost of the FBU gained pay rise, the need to make savings to keep Council tax down and a relatively poor assessment of the Hertfordshire fire service. For me the case for retaining Bovingdon was clear, as the risks on closure go up. I am extremely disappointed this has gone through.
Chipperfield is fortunate in that it was covered from Bovingdon and Kings Langley. Whatever you read in the press, Kings Langley fire station is not going to close. Just to be sure, I have this in writing from the Chief Fire Officer.                      Richard Roberts,
County and Dacorum Councillor