A HARWICH councillor was defeated after he made a last-ditch attempt to save Dovercourt’s day-time fire crews.

At a meeting on Wednesday, members of the Essex Fire Authority voted to implement option two out of a choice of three to cut the fire service, in an effort to save £6.4 million every year until 2020.

This means Dovercourt Fire Station is likely to be manned entirely by part-time “retained” firefighters.

Cathy Kent, a Thurrock councillor, backed by Essex county councillor Ivan Henderson, put forward an amendment to the planned cuts.

The amendment sought to have Dovercourt, South Woodham Ferrers and Thurrock firefighters spared the axe until it could be proven there were enough part-time “retained” crews to man the engines.

It was defeated after councillors were told the move would reduce savings the fire service required by about £2 million per year.

Mr Henderson said he doubted the service’s ability to recruit retained firefighters.

“Until we know these retained firefighters will be able to commit to manning Dovercourt’s two engines, we cannot support option two,” he said.

“From December 2015 through March this year, we have gained 10 retained firefighters and lost 15.

“I am very worried.

The people who signed up for option two did so because it was the least worst option.”

He added: “It is not normal for the public to support an increase in council tax, this just shows they were really concerned and in all likelihood would have been prepared to pay more.

“We see it in the case of the air ambulance – people are prepared to pay if it means they protect their emergency services.

“The most important thing now is that the authority holds the chief to account.”

Tendring councillor Carlo Guglielmi opposed the amendments to option two, arguing that if Dovercourt was a special case, other areas could argue their full-time services should be spared.

“If we go down that road, what stops every member round this table saying ‘let’s protect our stations’,” he said.

Fire chiefs will now plan to implement the cutbacks before a September meeting of the authority.