A Fire Brigade investigation into the controversial issue of a new fire station in Carterton is flawed and the town deserves a more independent inquiry, according to a councillor.

Carterton town and West Oxfordshire district councillor Peter Handley said some people in the town were talking about withholding some of their council tax in protest at what they see as a second class service.

He intends to stand for a Carterton ward in the next county council elections because of the issue.

Mr Handley said: "It almost beggars belief that we've got a town with four petrol stations, five primary schools and one comprehensive, two large industrial estates, one with a large area for storing bottled gas, and no fire station."

Crews at Bampton, Burford and Witney provide fire cover for the town. The commander of RAF Brize Norton, Group Captain Jon Lamonte, has said the base's military firefighters will not be able to cover emergencies in Carterton.

Mr Handley said: "I think we need somebody from a fire authority miles away to look at this from a safety aspect rather than a cost aspect, which I feel is being overlooked."

Deputy fire chief John Hurren said: "I totally refute that. It's about providing people in west Oxfordshire with a safe efficient service which is commensurate with the risks.

"Mr Handley is prejudging it before the review is over, we don't know what the outcome will be. It's nothing to do with cost, it's a total red herring."

Mr Handley now plans to organise a public meeting on the subject.