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13
August
2013
|
11:00
Europe/London

Backing for fire station legal challenge

Hackney Council has lent its support to planned legal action against the Mayor of London's decision to close ten fire stations in London.

Boris Johnson overturned a London Fire Authority decision in order to push through the closure plans, which would see Kingsland fire station closed by September 16.

This could place a third of Hackney outside London Fire Brigade's recommended response times with an increased wait of 3mins 13secs in De Beauvoir ward.

Hackney has confirmed its support for plans to seek a judicial review of the decision, led by neighbouring Islington Council.

Jules Pipe, Mayor of Hackney
I am appalled that the Mayor of London has ignored the decision of the fire authority in order to force through damaging cuts which will endanger lives in Hackney. These plans place the safety of ordinary people behind cost savings in importance and we will join with other local councils to challenge this decision in the courts.
Jules Pipe, Mayor of Hackney

The cuts, which were opposed by London Fire Authority, will also see the loss of 552 firefighter's jobs across London.

The cuts will:

  • Close 10 fire stations
  • Reduce the number of fire engines (pumping appliances) by 14
  • Reduce the number of fire rescue units (specialist rescue vehicles) from 16 to 14
  • Reduce minimum crewing levels on fire rescue units from 5 firefighters to 4
  • Reduce the number of firefighter posts overall by 552

The fire stations set to close are:

  1. Belsize
  2. Bow
  3. Clerkenwell
  4. Downham
  5. Kingsland
  6. Knightsbridge
  7. Silvertown
  8. Southwark
  9. Westminster
  10. Woolwich