Today it was announced that Boris Johnson will close 12 fire stations across London. The list of closures was revealed by the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority (LFEPA). The stations are spread across London and include Bow and Silvertown fire stations, as well as losing a fire engine from Whitechapel fire station.

 The London Fire Brigade's budget has been cut by the Mayor and government by £45 million over the next two years. Even after the 12 stations, 18 fire appliances and 400 fire-fighters have been cut the Mayor and LFEPA will still have to find over £5 million of cuts. On average it costs £1.4 million to run a one fire engine station.

 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

Woolwich in Greenwich

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

 Local Labour London Assembly Member John Biggs said:

“London’s fire brigade is facing a crisis, today we found out in East London we will lose Bow and Silvertown fire stations, as well as losing an engine from Whitechapel fire station and the closure of a further 11 fire stations across the whole of London, 18 fire engines and 400 fire-fighters. This will reduce fire cover in London and these cuts will put the safety and security of Londoners at risk.

 “How can cutting 12 of our fire stations, 18 fire engines and 400 fire-fighters be in the best interest of Londoners? The London Fire Brigade and their dedicated staff do a fantastic job keeping us safe and helping us when we need it most. The government are cutting too far and too fast, hitting the frontline and fundamentally undermining the ability of the fire brigade to do their job. It’s time that the Mayor stood up for Londoners and got a better deal from central government.

“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. Boris’s cuts are hitting front-line services and putting public safety at risk.”

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