• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

MayorWatch

London News and Comment

  • NEWS
  • Twitter

Consultation starts on plans to axe London fire stations

March 4, 2013 - Martin Hoscik@MayorWatch

12 stations will close under  the proposals which will now be consulted on. Image: LFEPA
12 stations will close under the proposals which will now be consulted on. Image: LFEPA
A public consultation has been launched on controversial plans to reform the capital’s Fire Brigade, including axing 12 fire stations and 18 engines.

The closures form part of the Brigade’s efforts to meet £45m in budget cuts imposed by Central Government and City Hall and have been opposed by the Fire Brigades Union, local councils and members of the London Assembly and fire authority.

Fire commissioner Ron Dobson has said the changes will not adversely impact on Londoners’ safety.

Other proposals include recovering a greater share of the Brigade’s costs when it assists brigades in neighbouring counties, charging persistent false alarm offenders and increasing efforts to encourage building owners to put in place in-house lift rescue arrangements.

Last month fire authority members backed down in a row with London Mayor Boris Johnson over the planned closures.

Labour, Green and Liberal Democrat members on the London Fire Emergency and Planning Authority (LFEPA) voted to block consultation on the closures.

The groups wanted the Mayor to scrap plans to cut City Hall’s share of the council tax by 7p per week, a move they claimed would provide enough additional funding to protect the stations and engines.

After LFEPA ignored a Mayoral Directive ordering it to proceed with the consultation, Mayor Johnson threatened the authority with a Judicial Review of its decision.

Last week the parties backed down after they failed in their efforts to use a London Assembly vote to amend the Mayor’s budget and scrap the planned council tax cut.

Their decision means LFEPA is now proceeding with the consultation which begins today, Monday 4th March 2013, and continues for 12 weeks.

Members of the public can have their say on the plans by visiting www.london-fire.gov.uk/lsp5, calling 0800 9888 569 or by writing to the London Fire Brigade at 169 Union Street, London, SE1 0LL.

LFEPA will also be holding a series of public meetings in London Boroughs, details of which will published at a later date.

Responses to the consultation must be in by 5pm on Tuesday 28th May 2013.

Announcing the start of the consultation, Commissioner Dobson said: “Compared to ten years ago, the Brigade attends half as many fires, a third fewer house fires and almost a third fewer incidents overall.

“But there is always more to be done. In the future, the resources available to the Brigade will reduce and the number of people who can work for the Brigade and provide our services will also reduce. We have passed the point where we can make the necessary level of savings without any impact on our fire stations. 

“In this draft plan, I set out how I propose to make those savings, while continuing to provide an excellent emergency response service and also protecting the delivery of community safety and fire safety services.

“I remain committed to my long term vision for London Fire Brigade to remain a world class fire and rescue service for London, Londoners and visitors. This draft plan sets out in more detail how I plan to continue to achieve that over the next three years.”

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)

Tagged With: Fire Brigade Cuts

RECENT UPDATES

TfL proposes bus and tube cuts and annual fares increases to achieve long-term financial sustainability

London’s entire bus fleet now meets ULEZ emissions standards

New road layout comes into effect at Old Street roundabout

TfL funding enables creation of 2,000 new cycle parking spaces




Popular

1,700 extra Santander Cycles are coming to London’s streets

TfL confirms changes to Older Person’s Freedom Pass and 60+ Oyster card hours

TfL fares to rise in return for £1.6bn Government rescue package

Election for Mayor of London and London Assembly postponed until 2021

FEATURED

City Hall to move to Docklands as Mayor seeks to raise £55m for frontline services

‘Concern’ over TfL’s ability to deliver major projects in wake of Crossrail cost overruns

City Hall halts London Overground ticket office closures but many will still see opening hours reduced

Transport for London confirms bus cuts will go ahead despite passenger opposition

GOT A STORY?

As the original London news and scrutiny site we've been casting an eye over the capital's public services and politicians since 1999.

 

Many of our top stories started with a tip-off from a reader - if you've got something you'd like us to cover get in touch and we'll do the rest.

Stay In Touch

  • E-mail
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2021 MayorWatch Publications Limited · MayorWatch is Registered Trademark · All Rights Reserved · Contact Us · Terms of Use · Privacy Policy

MayorWatch Publications Limited · 20-22 Wenlock Road · London N1 7GU · Company Number 6291816

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.