THE new chairman of the Wiltshire and Swindon Fire Authority, Councillor Chris Devine, addresses Wiltshire Council on Tuesday ahead of an expected row over the proposed service merger.

Plans to merge the authority with Dorset Fire and Rescue Service to cut costs have recently been thrown into doubt, after north Wiltshire MP James Gray expressed concerns over emergency response times.

This has been disputed by Trowbridge councillor Graham Payne, who resigned as authority chairman last month, claiming he had lost support of the board. The meeting is at County Hall at 10.45am.