A BOROUGH councillor has quit the Labour Party in a row over a proposed fire service shake-up.
Ian Ormerod resigned from the council's ruling political group during a stormy meeting to discuss the loss of the town's third fire engine.
Cllr Ormerod, who will now sit as an independent, strongly opposes plans to downgrade Ellesmere Port Fire Station to two main pumps.
He fears the move, part of Cheshire Fire Authority's Integrated Risk Management Plan (IRMP), could jeopardise public safety.
Cllr Ormerod publicly quit Labour during a debate on the IRMP during full council on Thursday.
He then joined the Tories, Lib Dems and three Labour rebels in an official vote on the issue, which Labour still managed to win.
Speaking afterwards, Cllr Ormerod said: 'It's sad it's come to this but I can't stand back and watch any cuts to the fire service happen.
'I have now set a precedent, paving the way for any other councillors who feel strongly about it to also leave the Labour group.
'I remain ward councillor for Strawberry Fields and I will continue to serve my constituents to the best of my ability, with their best interests at heart.'
The Fire Authority wants to replace the Port's third engine with a smaller fire tender, as well as alter firefighters' shift patterns. It denies lives will be put at risk or jobs lost as a result.
Although the borough council can't prevent this happening, Tory member Gareth Anderson called for politicians from all three parties to formally object to the moves.
He told the meeting: 'Party politics must be put to one side as we oppose any moves to replace the third engine.
'More than 10% of this borough's population have signed a petition calling for its retention. Thousands more are angry about it.'
The Tories, Lib Dems, Cllr Ormerod and Labour's Mike McCusker, Henny Moore and Diane Roberts all voted to send formal objections to the Fire Authority on the grounds the loss of the third engine will 'cost lives'.
But in a knife-edge ballot, they were outvoted 18 to 16.
Now, at council leader Fred Venables' suggestion, the council will consult further with the Fire Authority, which makes its final decision on the third engine on March 17.
After the vote, 20 Ellesmere Port firefighters in the public gallery stormed out, one shouting: 'People could die because of this. It's a disgrace.'
Labour spokesman Cllr Justin Madders said afterwards: 'We are very disappointed Ian chose to resign.'
But Cllr Anderson said: 'We applaud every Labour councillor who voted with us. They have done their community a great service.'
