A COUNCILLOR involved in the battle to save Blaina fire station fears lives will be lost as a result of its closure.

Lisa Winnett has been a prominent voice in a year-long battle to try to persuade South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, and ultimately the South Wales Fire and Rescue Authority, not to close the station, placing 15 retained firefighters' jobs at risk.

That battle appears lost after authority members voted 16-3 in favour of closure at a meeting on Monday - but Cllr Winnett, Blaina ward members on Blaenau Gwent county borough council, believes the decision is a bad one for public safety and an insult to the firefighters.

"It is devastating news for the community of Blaina and surrounding areas," she said.

"The authority has ignored the decision made by the council's scrutiny committee (which earlier this year rejected the closure plan) and I believe lives will be lost as a result of closure.

"We've fought this for a year, won extra time, but we couldn't save it. But it has not been a waste of time because we believe three lives that might have been lost (in fire incidents in the area) if it had been closed last April have been saved."

The closure will save the service £158,000 a year, but the initial proposal last autumn triggered petitions and protests at the station which 18 years ago lost two of its firefighters - Steven Griffin and Kevin Lane - during a rescue attempt at a house in Blaina.

Mr Griffin's widow Margaret and daughter Christina told the Argus yesterday of their anger and upset over the closure vote, and councillor Winnett said their feelings were shared by the firefighters and many in the community.

"It seems like it was a done deal from day one and the service tried to appease the public by taking it through the scrutiny process," said councillor Winnett, who submitted a detailed report on why the station should remain open, as part of the battle against closure.

"Blaina station is the only retained RDS (retained duty system) station open 100 per cent of the time, and closure will put significant pressure on other RDS stations. It makes no sense at all."

Hugh Jakeway, chief fire officer with South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, has pledged to work with staff and the Fire Brigades' Union to "explore all opportunities for suitable alternative employment."

He acknowledged the closure decision is an emotive one, but said it had not been taken lightly.