Fire stations face closure, warns Assembly Member

Fire stations across East London are at risk of closure due to planned budget cuts, according to a London Assembly Member.

John Biggs, who was formerly leader of Tower Hamlets council and now represents the City and East London on the Assembly, described the planned cuts as “reckless”, and predicted that dozens of stations across the capital will face closure.

He said: “We understand that savings have to be made, but the level of cuts forced on the London Fire Brigade by government is truly reckless.”

The remarks followed a question and answer session with London Fire Authority commissioner Ron Dobson at the Assembly, during which he confirmed that �14m worth of cuts have been proposed, with a further �21m still to be identified.

Mr Biggs added: “It is not clear if stations in my constituency will be affected but with so many stations at risk and 12 stations in my patch, I fear we will be hit.”

However, a spokesman for the London Fire Brigade said the impact of the planned cuts remains unclear. “It’s no secret that the London Fire Brigade is going to have to make very significant savings over the next two years”, he said. “There is no list of fire stations facing closure or the withdrawal of a fire engine.”