Andrew Dismore

Barnet and Camden residents have been urged to have their say over changes to their fire service. The   consultation is available on line and residents can give their views very easily through the Fire Brigade website.

 

Local London Assembly and Fire Authority Member Andrew Dismore AM made the call after the London Fire Brigade launched a consultation over proposals to meet £6.4m of budget cuts demanded by the Mayor. Local people are able to choose from two options, one which will see the permanent removal of 13 fire engines, and the other, developed by Mr Dismore, which will focus on back office efficiencies, allowing the 13 engines to be returned.

 

A public meeting to discuss the future of fire services in North West London, including Barnet and Camden, will take place on 11th January, at Brent Civic Centre at 7PM.

 

Proposals set out in London Fire Brigade’s consultation include plans to permanently axe 13 fire engines, which could potentially see the removal of an engine at West Hampstead station in Camden. However, Mr Dismore warned that cutting more fire engines could exacerbate a recent rise in response times across the capital. 16 wards in Camden and 5 in Barnet saw a rise in response times in 2014/15, when compared with the previous year, as a result of Boris Johnson’s closure of 10 fire stations and scrapping of 14 engines.

 

Alternative proposals developed by Andrew Dismore AM, Chair of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority’s Resource Committee, would meet the savings target through back office efficiencies and changing working patterns, enabling the 13 engines to be returned.

 

A public meeting to discuss both proposals and their impact for North West London, including Barnet and Camden, will take place at Brent Civic Centre at 7PM on 11^th January. The consultation ends 1^st February at 10 AM.

 

Local London Assembly Member, Andrew Dismore AM, said:

 

“With our fire services facing uncertain times, and response times already rising significantly in Barnet and Camden, it’s important that local people have their say over the future of London’s fire service.

 

“The Mayor’s cuts mean that there are very tough decisions ahead. If you take fire engines out of service then of course response times could rise and lives could be put at risk. Nobody wants to see that happen. With frontline services at stake, it hugely important that local people are given the opportunity to make their views known.”