October 20 sees the end of public consultation on a matter that is literally one of life and death. The consultation is on the merging of Wiltshire and Dorset Fire Services.

Our firefighters put their safety on the line to save our lives and property. So the maintenance and future of this vital service really does matter to us all and we all need to make our views known.

If the stories in the press are true, it appears that local Conservative Leaders in North Wiltshire MP James Gray and Wiltshire Council Leader Jane Scott are against the merger.

However, neither seems to have a viable alternative plan to protect the frontline firefighters while keeping within budget.

Perhaps if the senior management tiers are merged and money saved then frontline, local fire services will be protected.

It seems a majority of councillors of all parties and those on the Wiltshire Fire Authority agree.

As such James Gray and Jane Scott appear to be seriously out of line once again, not least with many firefighters.

It is important your readers study the facts and voice their own views. Sadly Wiltshire Council has not seen fit to publish the consultation document, but you can find it on the Wiltshire Fire Service website at: www.wiltsfire.gov.uk/strengthen ingourfrs and make your views known.

Whatever one’s view, I hope we would all agree that there should be no place in public consultations for the sort of offensive remarks made by Mr Gray concerning councillor Graham Payne.

Cllr Payne is the former chairman of the Wiltshire Fire Authority. As such he is a man who has invested time and effort in our fire service.

Just because he disagrees with Mr Gray should not result in our MP saying of him “I don’t know Graham Payne from Santa Claus. I have never heard of the man”.

There is too much petty slanging and name calling in politics. It is time that it stopped in favour of debating the substantive issues.

Dr. Brian Mathew, Liberal Democrat Prospective MP for North Wiltshire, St Mary’s Place, Chippenham.