After more than three hours of debate, Warwickshire County Council voted by 34 votes to 22 for proposals that included the closure of Warwick, Brinklow and Studley fire stations.

Chief fire officer Graeme Smith's modernisation proposals also included dedicated units for small fires and road traffic collisions, an extra boat to deal with flooding, extra 'hot fire' training and more home safety checks.

He plans to cut costs by reducing the number of automatic fire alarms and better management of sickness and absence.

Closures will begin in 12 months, but not before other prevention measures have been fully implemented.

Warwick Conservatives Cllr Angela Warner and Cllr Clare Hopkinson voted against their party's proposal to support the measures. Together with other Leamington and Warwick Tories, they called for a new station south of Leamington.

Cllr Warner (Con, Warwick South) said: "This process has massive flaws. Nothing here addresses my dilemma. I cannot endorse any of this."

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Cllr Hopkinson (Con, Warwick West) drew attention to Warwick's three hospitals, many schools and timber-framed buildings and tourist attractions, and questioned whether Leamington crews could cover both towns and nearby countryside.

She said: "I might not fight fires but I'm going to fight this proposal."

Labour councillor Richard Chattaway (Bede) proposed an amendment to maintain stations and staffing, with three small fires units, two road traffic collision units, £60,000 to be spent on flooding and £160,000 for home fire safety check where they are needed most.

Liberal Democrats also opposed closures, which they said would have a "negative impact" on resilience of the service, calling on councillors to support Tory MPs who had campaigned against closures.

Both opposition parties said consultation had been "flawed".

Cllr Sarah Boad (Lib Dem, Leamington Crown) called the idea of a new fire station a "red herring" and Cllr John Whitehouse (Kenilworth Abbey) pointed out there was no option including a new Leamington fire station.

Others agreed with moving Leamington fire station, Cllr Michael Doody (Con, Cubbington) said Leamington's full-time firefighters often reached fires before other retained crews, and that moving the station would give Warwick district a better fire station and better cover.

He said: "We need to change. That way we're moving into the future and the needs of our community."

Cllr Richard Hobbs (Con, Aston Cantlow) who is responsible for community safety, claimed the new strategy would make residents and firefighters safer.

He said: "Many people die before the Fire and Rescue Service receive the original 999 call. This plan will help save some of those lives.
"We want to see the occupant standing in front of their house as a result of the smoke alarm going off."

Cllr Alan Cockburn (Con, Kenilworth St Johns) said the Labour group "skirted round" the difficult issues.

He added: "We have been persuaded by a professional fire officer to improve the safety of the residents and firefighters. I'm proud this council has grasped the nettle for the long-term benefit of the people of Warwickshire."

Warwick and Leamington MP Chris White (Con) called it the "wrong decision".

Mr White, who last month raised the issue in Parliament, said: "I have been campaigning against these proposals since they were first raised and I know that the whole community is against this. We could not have made our case any clearer. People will, rightly, be very angry that the council has not listened."