FIRE chief Graham Stagg believes that political and public pressure could yet keep Manea Fire Station open.

Questioned this week by Editor John Elworthy, the �190,000-a-year head of Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service said: “We have strength of argument and a level of detail of research to make it difficult to overturn the proposed closure.

“However, we are always willing to listen to debate and argument. And there is the political side of the argument to be won. The fire authority will make the decision – not me.

“I don’t pretend for one second that the people of Manea would not suffer detriment to services as a result of that but across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough there could potentially be an improvement.”

Mr Stagg said that until a decision is taken in October – which saves the authority �80,000 a year – there would be a recruitment freeze at Manea even though vacancies remain.

“I am not recruiting staff that I might in a few months time be asked to make redundant,” he said.