THE police and crime commissioner has been accused of an undemocratic, Soviet-style 'power grab' by a member of the fire authority he is seeking to abolish.

Under the controversial proposal the police and crime commissioner John Campion would take on the running of both Shropshire and Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Services, leading to both authorities being disbanded.

All 40 councillors who sit on the two fire authorities would be replaced by an elected commissioner.

If these changes go ahead in 2020, communities would have the chance to directly elect a local police, fire and crime commissioner.

Mr Campion has said it would save the taxpayer around £4 million a year.

But Cllr Fran Oborski, leader of the 2017 (Liberal Democrat and Green Party) Group on the Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Authority has condemned the move.

Cllr Oborski, speaking as the public consultation launched on Monday, said: "Currently Fire and Rescue Services are run by councillors appointed by the constituent local authorities (Herefordshire and Worcestershire for the HWFRA and Shropshire and Telford for the Shropshire FRA) and are politically balanced, representing the political makeup of those authorities.

"This ensures that the views of all the communities served by those authorities are heard.

"The idea that these two authorities which bring together representatives of our very diverse rural and urban communities should be dissolved and replaced with a situation where all power will be placed in the hands of one single individual smacks of a "Soviet" control style and will create an appalling democratic deficit."

She said the police and crime commissioner already held the position of vice chairman of Wyre Forest District Council and had been appointed as his deputy a fellow Conservative Wyre Forest District and Worcestershire County Councillor.

She added: "What is more the majority of the "Community Ambassadors" who he has appointed are also serving Conservative councillors.

"This "power grab" proposal is going out to public consultation from today with the Police and Crime Commissioner claiming that it will save £4 million.

"As a long serving member of Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service, I challenge that claim and urge members of the public, community groups, local councils and other consultees to reject this appalling undemocratic power grab."

West Mercia police and crime commissioner John Campion said: “It is understandable that some fire authority members may not support proposals that would lead to their roles being abolished.

"However this is not about emotion, ideology or politics.

"Given the significant potential benefits of the proposals it is right that we seek the public’s view on the future governance of their fire services."

Previously Mr Campion said, although he is driving the proposals, this is not about him 'building an empire' but what is best for the emergency services and the communities they serve based on recommendations from independent experts.

The document says the extra integration and collaboration between police and fire 'does not mean takeover' or a merger and would have no negative impact on frontline police officers and if anything could protect frontline roles.