Andrew Dismore

Labour Fire Authority and Assembly Member Andrew Dismore yesterday voted against the Mayor’s proposals to close Belsize and 11 other fire stations.

Last week it was announced that Boris Johnson wants to close 12 fire stations across London. Even after the 12 stations, 18 fire appliances and 520 firefighters have been cut the Mayor and LFEPA will still have to find over £5 million more in cuts.

The fire stations listed for closure are:Belsize in Camden; Bow in Tower Hamlets; Clapham in Lambeth; Clerkenwell in Islington; Downham in Lewisham; Kingsland in Hackney; Knightsbridge in Kensington & Chelsea; New Cross in Lewisham; Silvertown in Newham; Southwark; Westminster; and Woolwich in Greenwich.

In addition the following stations will lose one of their two fire engines:Chelsea, Chingford, Hayes, Leyton, Leytonstone, Peckham and Whitechapel.

Labour London Assembly Member Andrew Dismore said:

“Yesterday we voted against the Mayor’s plans to cut the Fire Brigade. We believe these cuts would jeopardise the safety and security of Londoners – all for just a 1p per day cut in council tax. The Mayor should stop taking the ‘P’ out of the Fire Brigade. We will fight these closures tooth and nail. We are here to represent Londoners and we are taking this fight to the Mayor.

“Mayor Johnson has said he will now issue a directive ordering the London Fire Authority to make these cuts. He is ignoring the wishes of the Fire Authority and the people of London in trying to force through these cuts against the wishes of Londoners. The Mayor must think again in setting his budget, to keep our fire stations open and protect the safety and security of Londoners. The final fire budget will not be voted on until March so Boris still has time to reconsider the draconian cuts to the Fire Brigade.

“If the Mayor is serious about listening to Londoners then he must not overrule our plans for a wide ranging consultation. We want to make sure each borough has at least a two hour meeting and that members of the fire authority are there. We do not want a repeat of the sham consultation meetings carried out by the Mayor’s policing deputy Stephen Greenhalgh.

“We understand that savings have to be made, but the level of cuts forced on the London Fire Brigade by the Mayor and government are truly reckless. They are cutting too far and too fast, hitting the frontline (which they said they would not) and are fundamentally undermining the ability of the fire brigade to do their job. That is why we voted against the Mayor’s plans”