London Fire Brigade proposes to close 12 fire stations across the capital

General view of London Fire Brigade headquarters, as plans have been unveiled to close 12 fire stations in London with the loss of 520 jobs. Picture: Jonathan Brady/PA Wire

Sarah Shaffi Friday, January 11, 2013
2:45 PM

Twelve fire stations are proposed for closure under plans by London Fire Brigade to help it save a total of £45.5million over the next two years.

The plans, if approved, will result in the loss of around 520 front line firefighter jobs.

The brigade estimates that there will be no compulsory redundancies, and that the job losses will be through retirement or as people naturally leave, and through a recruitment freeze.

Stations proposed for closure are Belsize, Bow, Clapham, Clerkenwell, Downham, Kingsland, Knightsbridge, New Cross, Silvertown, Southwark, Westminster and Woolwich.

If approved following a consultation, it is proposed the changes be implemented from this autumn.

Seven fire stations that have two appliances will only have one under the proposals.

These are Chelsea, Chingford, Hayes, Leyton, Leytonstone, Peckham and Whitechapel.

Four stations with one fire engine will get a second.

These are Hendon, Orpington, Stanmore and Twickenham.

Ron Dobson, Commissioner of the London Fire Brigade, said the proposals would not affect response times and would in fact help more boroughs to achieve the target of six minutes for the first engine and eight minutes for the second.

The fire service is due to meet with representatives of the Fire Brigades Union next week to discuss the plans.

Commissioner Dobson said: “I think the union are likely not to like the proposals and make comments about putting safety at risk and that our attendance times will be affected but I don’t agree.

“I am bracing myself for difficult discussions but I like to think that they would recognise that like other public bodies we have a need to make savings.”