East Sussex Fire Authority will decide whether to implement controversial changes on Thursday.

Planned changes, which include the removal of a fire appliance from Brighton and Hove and increasing second appliance response times, have faced heavy criticism.

Local politicians have signed a cross party letter asking the Fire Authority, to reject the plans.

Public consultation on the changes came under fire, with only 655 people of a population of 760,000 completing an online survey.

Simon Herbert, chairman of the East Sussex Fire Brigade Union, said: “it is clear that there is no local support for these cuts to frontline services.”

A public forum on the changes saw politicians and residents express concerns.

The Fire Authority will consider the proposals at the East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service building in Eastbourne on Thursday at 10:30am. The public can attend.

For details of the plans, visit www.esfrs.org/publicconsultation