Fire stations dodge closure in cost-cutting plans (From Times Series)
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Fire stations in Barnet dodge closure under London Fire Brigade's cost-cutting plans
4:06pm Friday 11th January 2013 in News
By Chris Hewett
Earlier proposals suggested Mill Hill would shut down depending on the budget cuts placed on the service by the government this month
Fire stations in Barnet have avoided closure under London Fire Brigade cuts published today.
Hendon Fire Station will be increased from one to two pumps to provide cover for other closures in the capital under LFB’s plans to save £28.8million over the next two years.
The brigade published a list of 12 stations that will be shut down, seven that will be reduced from one pump to two and four more locations where crews will be added.
Earlier proposals suggested Mill Hill would shut down depending on the budget cuts placed on the service by the government this month.
The £28.8million target means none of Barnet’s four stations will be closed but Labour’s GLA member Andrew Dismore has warned they may not be safe in the longer term.
Belsize Fire Station in Swiss Cottage, which is used to cover fires in the south of Barnet, was named among the list of closures.
He said: “This is not the end of the story. There is still a huge funding gap of many millions in the Fire Authority budget that may well mean more closures in the near future.”
