Public meeting on Whitechapel fire station cuts held
Campaigners at the Whitechapel fire station meeting - Credit: Archant
Cuts to fire services were up for discussion at a public meeting with MPs, London Assembly Members and union representatives last weekend.
The meeting focused on Whitechapel fire station, which is earmarked to lose one of its two fire engines as the London Fire Brigade seeks £45million savings.
London Assembly Member John Biggs, who is also Labour’s Mayoral candidate in Tower Hamlets, warned the planned cuts would leave residents vulnerable.
“While we all hope to never need a fire engine, when we do we need it to come quickly, and for there to be enough of them to deal with the worst emergencies. With the current levels of house building, and tall buildings, we must fight these cuts,” he added.
The meeting was held outside the Berner Community Centre in Ponler Street, Shadwell on Saturday, May 25. It attracted MP for Bethnal Green and Bow Rushanara Ali, and chair of the London Fire Brigade Union Gordon Fielden, as well as around 50 residents.
It follows a larger event in May on the future of Bow fire station, which is one of 12 across the capital earmarked for closure.
