12.30pm City Hall: Rally and lobby to oppose fire service cuts2.30pm City Hall: Fire Authority meeting to discuss the London Safety Plan
Cllr. Darren Johnson AM commented, “Whilst I agree that the fire service must change and adapt to cope with modern pressures, I am very concerned about the removal of ten fire engines and the closure of Manchester Square Fire Station. Londoners are living under the threat of terrorism and we should not be reducing services in central and inner London. If we need to expand the service elsewhere in London then the Government should invest more in public safety, rather than spending our money on invading Iraq.”
Darren continued, “Councillors and MPs of all political parties have protested about the plans but when the draft plan was presented to the Fire Authority in December, Labour, Conservative, Liberal Democrat and UKIP/Veritas members all voted in favour of the Plan. As the Green Party representative on the Fire Authority I was the only member to vote against it. “
The final decision on the Safety Plan will be made at the Fire Authority meeting tomorrow (March 17) at 2pm in City hall. Darren has pledged to vote against the cuts.
The London Safety Plan proposes the following cuts to services:· The closure of Manchester Square Fire Station in Marylebone. · Reduced staffing levels at fire stations with two fire appliances. · Removal of fire engines from the following fire stations: Westminster; Knightsbridge, Kensington; Euston; Acton; Bethnal Green; Clerkenwell; Dockhead; Greenwich and Islington.