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London fire stations: Protests amid talks on closure plans London fire station closure plans rejected in vote
(about 1 hour later)
Hundreds of firefighters have staged a protest against plans to close 12 fire stations which would result in the loss of 520 jobs in London. Plans to close 12 fire stations with the loss of 520 jobs have been rejected by the London Fire Authority.
Firefighters lobbied a meeting of the London Fire Authority, which was discussing proposals to save £45m over the next two years. After a fierce debate the proposals, aimed at saving £45m in the next two years, were rejected.
The London Fire Brigade said 10% of frontline posts would go, but it hoped to avoid compulsory redundancies. The authority voted by 9-8 in favour of a Labour amendment deleting any references to station closures, appliance reductions and job losses in any future public consultation.
The Fire Brigades Union has described the proposals as "reckless". Hundreds of firefighters staged a protest outside the meeting.
The number of fire stations would be reduced to 100 under the proposals. Boris Johnson, London's mayor, has ultimate power over the fire authority and is now likely be involved in making a decision on how to make savings.
'Truly reckless' London fire commissioner Ron Dobson proposed cutting 10% of frontline posts, but hoped to avoid compulsory redundancies.
London Fire commissioner Ron Dobson said he hoped firefighters would not take industrial action over the cuts, stressing the authority had to make savings because of reductions to its budget. The Fire Brigades Union had described the proposals as "reckless".
He said targets of attending an incident within six minutes for the first appliance and eight minutes for the second would be retained. The number of fire stations would have been reduced to 100 under the proposals.
The proposals would see 12 fire stations close, seven fire stations which currently have two fire engines moving to one appliance, and four stations gaining a fire engine. The move would have seen 12 fire stations close, seven fire stations which currently have two fire engines moving to one appliance, and four stations gaining a fire engine.
Paul Embery, of the Fire Brigades Union, said the proposed cuts were "reckless and wrong".Paul Embery, of the Fire Brigades Union, said the proposed cuts were "reckless and wrong".
He said: "You can't slash 12 fire stations, 18 engines and 520 firefighter posts without jeopardising public safety.He said: "You can't slash 12 fire stations, 18 engines and 520 firefighter posts without jeopardising public safety.
"Last week's helicopter accident in Vauxhall showed the importance of having a properly-funded, well-resourced fire service in the capital, and it is worthy of note that the first crew at the scene was mobilised from a station - Clapham - earmarked for closure and arrived within four minutes. "Last week's helicopter accident in Vauxhall showed the importance of having a properly-funded, well-resourced fire service in the capital, and it is worthy of note that the first crew at the scene was mobilised from a station - Clapham - earmarked for closure and arrived within four minutes."
"The safety of Londoners is playing second fiddle to crude economic considerations." Labour said its members on the fire authority voted against the proposals because they believed they would jeopardise safety.
Labour said its members on the fire authority would vote against the proposals because they believed they would jeopardise safety. Lib Dem and Green Party members also voted against the proposals.
Spokesman Navin Shah said: "We will fight these closures tooth and nail.
"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."
Lib Dem and Green Party member are also expected to vote against the proposals.