BIDFORD taxpayers pay almost £1,000 a month towards the cost of putting out small fires at abandoned or undeveloped sites around the village, it has been claimed.

Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service revealed it had been called out to 23 deliberate small fires in Bidford in the past 12 months, with a large proportion at Friday Furlong and the abandoned United Carriers site off Waterloo Road.

Warwickshire county councillor Peter Barnes claimed that responding to these incidents so frequently was costing taxpayers about £10,000 a year, adding: “We’re quite happy for the kids to play there, but we don’t want any fires. This is not what we want to be spending our money on in this economic climate.”

The fire service’s arson reduction manager Ian Tonner confirmed personnel had been deployed in the area to speak with local residents about the dangers of small fires and how to store rubbish safely.

He said: “This collaborative approach is proving to be very effective as small fires have dramatically decreased in the past six months.

“In an attempt to further reduce the impact on local communities we are working with site owners to secure derelict properties within the area. We are also hoping to block vehicle access to derelict premises to reduce the potential for fly tipping.”

Bidford Parish Council said it welcomed any action to help improve safety.

Parish clerk Elizabeth Uggerlose said: “There have been small fires started on these sites for many years and it’s something we were concerned about when they proposed the closure of Bidford Fire Station.

“We would simply like Friday Furlong to be tidied up, or developed. The priority is to make it safe.”

Anyone with information about fire setting in the area has been urged to call the Arson Task Force on 02476 483205 or CrimeStoppers on 0800 555111.