Fire authority rejects plans to cut 10 fire stations and 550 jobs in London

Firefighters protest against station closures and engine cuts outside London Fire Brigade headquarters in London today. Picture: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire

Sebastian Mann Thursday, July 18, 2013
6:58 PM

The political body in charge of fire services in London has voted against proposals to close 10 stations in the capital and cut more than 550 jobs.

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Fourteen fire engines would also go under the plans, proposed by London Fire Brigade Commissioner Ron Dobson.

The London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority (LFEPA) met this afternoon to decide whether to support or reject the cuts.

The vote, which took place at the Southwark headquarters of the London Fire Brigade following vocal protests outside by firefighters, does not bind the Mayor, who is in favour of the Commissioner?s cuts.

It is expected Boris Johnson will force through the proposals anyway.

Tempers were high throughout the meeting, with Labour representatives on the authority clashing with Conservatives. Cries of ?shame? and other heckling from anti-cuts activists in the public gallery led LFEPA chair James Cleverly to urge calm several times.

Members of the fire authority from the Labour, Green and Liberal Democrat parties united to propose an amendment to the plans. This amendment effectively rejected the proposals in the Commissioner?s London Safety Plan that would see cuts made to stations, engines, and jobs.

The 17 members of the authority voted through the amendment nine to eight, before voting by the same ratio in favour of the amended proposal.

Mr Cleverly, also a Conservative member of the London Assembly, is in favour of the Commissioner?s plan. He told reporters after the vote the new plan was one that ?completely blows the budget?.

But Green member Darren Johnson, who supported the amendment, said: ?We were absolutely right to come together today to oppose the cuts in the London Safety Plan. The Mayor has put the Commissioner in an impossible position.?

Originally two further fire stations, at Clapham and New Cross, had been earmarked for closure, but the two south London stations were saved when plans were redrafted following a 15-week public consultation.

At today?s meeting, Commissioner Dobson revealed these original plans were still his preference, but that he had compromised following the public consultation.

Thousands contributed their views during the 15-week listening exercise, with 94 per cent saying the opposed station closures and job cuts.

Source: http://www.london24.com/fire_authority_rejects_plans_to_cut_10_fire_stations_and_550_jobs_in_london_1_2286193

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