COUNCILLORS in Pendle have called on fire chiefs to scrap plans to close stations and axe crews in the borough which will costs lives.' Lancashire Fire Authority is proposing a number of alterations to provisions in the county after studying call out patterns over the last three years which revealed there was too much cover.

The plans include axing one of the two retained fire crews at Barnoldswick and Colne as well as closing Barnoldswick and Earby's stations and building a replacement in the Salterforth area.

Now leading councillors have hit out at the plans.

Executive member for resources Coun David Whipp, said Pendle should not have to suffer cuts to provide fire cover somewhere else in the county and needed the current levels to support the borough's growing population.

He said: "I think the proposals, as far as the Pendle station and fire crews are concerned, are unacceptable.

"They represent a risk to residents and the fire crews. They are risks that need not be put there.

"These kinds of cuts will costs people's lives.

"We firmly request not to proceed with the proposals to remove provision in Pendle."

The fire authority will put proposals out for consultation on August 1, with the final decision being taken in December.