DORSET'S fire service could lose £1million in planned savings if proposals for a merger with Wiltshire and Swindon do not go ahead on time.
The fire authority is consulting with the public over plans to merge with the two authorities and is expected to make a decision at the beginning of November.
At Dorset Fire Authority's meeting, chief fire officer Darran Gunter told members a new completion date of July 2015 would be six months later than planned and would risk £1million in savings, which were scheduled to offset the Authority's deficits in the 2015/16 year.
He added both Dorset and Wiltshire fire authorities were working together to bring the combination timetable forward and prevent financial losses.
After the public consultation is finished, options will be considered at Dorset Fire Authority’s meeting on November 4.
An official Combination Order will then be presented to the fire minister Penny Mordaunt, who must approve the order before it can go ahead.
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