FRINTON and Walton Town Council is to complain over what it pays for fire services compared to what it receives in return.

The move is the latest action in a campaign from frustrated councillors, angry at Essex Fire and Rescue planning to downgrade Frinton fire station from two engines to one.

Tendring council cabinet member Nick Turner told last week’s meeting that Frinton and Walton pays £500,000 a year for the fire service, something he said would only cost £150,000.

“Our fire precept pays for the fire engine and crew more than twice over,” he said.

Members agreed to write a “strongly worded latter” to the Essex Fire and Rescue complaining of “the rates we pay.”

The move followed councillors debating whether two engines would be needed at a call-out for officers to enter a blazing building to rescue someone.

Chris Keston said officers had told him that recent rule changes meant two engines had to be at a call-out before officers would enter a home wearing breathing apparatus. Thus, having just one appliance at Frinton would mean “nothing is going to get done.”

But town mayor Jack Robertson said as a former fireman he was not aware of such a rule.

Mayor Robertson added the only way to stop Frinton second fire engine being taken away would be a Spring General Election.

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service said this week that the decision to enter a burning building was determined by a risk assessment, not the number of fire engines attending the incident.