Clapham Fire Station on list to close (From Wandsworth Guardian)
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Clapham Fire Station on list to close
7:50am Friday 19th October 2012 in News By Jamie Henderson
The future of Clapham Fire Station is in doubt after it was shortlisted as one of 17 across the capital for closure.
The plans, which include cutting 600 jobs, were revealed this week in a document leaked to BBC London News and look set to be put before a meeting of the London Fire Authority on November 22.
Proposals come as the Mayor of London looks to save £65m over the next two years.
The Fire Brigade Union’s regional secretary for London, Paul Embery, said: "These proposals present the biggest threat to the London Fire Brigade since the days of the Luftwaffe and would lead to the decimation of fire cover in London.
"The stations under threat of closure have stood proudly for generations, protecting local residents from bombs, fire and terrorism, yet Boris Johnson is about to hammer a ‘For Sale’ sign on to their front doors.
"We do not believe that cuts of this scale can be achieved without there being an impact on public safety, and we call on Londoners to join with us in defending our fire service.
"The brigade will argue that attendance times will not be affected by these cuts.
"Aside from the fact that is a very bold and risky claim to make, anyone who knows anything about firefighting knows that it isn’t just about the speed of response; the weight of response - ensuring that you have adequate resources to deal with developing incidents - is just as crucial.
"All around the country, chief fire officers are beginning to warn publicly of the danger of catastrophic cuts. So far, the commissioner of the London Fire Brigade, Ron Dobson, has remained silent, but surely now it is time for him speak up."
List of stations earmarked for closure: Acton, Belsize, Bow, Clapham, Clerkenwell, Downham, Islington, Kensington, Kingsland, Knightsbridge, New Cross, Peckham, Silvertown, Southwark, Westminster, Whitechapel, Woolwich.
List of stations which would see a reduction in their firefighting capability: Chingford, Hayes, Leyton, Leytonstone.
