PENKETH Parish Council has written a letter to Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service opposing cuts to its service.

Plans are afoot to change cover at Birchwood Fire Station because it doesn't deal with enough calls.

The station on Admirals Road is currently manned 24 hours a day, but the service intends to run two day shifts with either the station's firefighters on standby at night or bring in coverage from elsewhere.

And although it is not expected that any jobs will be lost, the Fire Brigades Union wrote to the parish council asking for its support if more drastic cost-saving measures are taken in the town.

Clr George Warburton, (Lab-Penketh), said he believes Sir Peter Gershon, who carried out a civil service efficiency review in 2004, is to blame.

He said: "They probably want to close a station, and it will probably be Birchwood which is one of the most densely populated parts of Warrington.

"This is all down to Gershon. He did his knifework like Beeching did on the railways.

"There are cuts to the NHS, the civil service, the public sector. We are all running around like chickens with no heads looking for money which isn't there."

The councillor blamed money being wasted by the Government on the Iraq war.

He added: "It's all down to saving money, which would be there if it was used properly."

A fire service spokesman said: "The fire authority has no plans to close Birchwood Fire Station and intends to continue providing 24-hour emergency cover from there.

"What it has agreed is to consult over a different duty system which better meets local risks and demands.

"We will be consulting all local stakeholders and will be happy to meet parish councillors to explain the proposals in detail."