At today’s (Wednesday) Mayor’s Question Time Boris Johnson was challenged over new figures that reveal 16 of the most deprived wards in Newham will see an increase in the response time for the first fire engine to arrive at an incident.
The Mayor is still pushing ahead to close 10 other fire stations, cut 14 fire engines and 552 firefighters to pay for his 1penny a day council tax cut. The London Fire Brigade’s own plan admits there is a link between fire and deprivation.
The target response time for the first engine is 6minutes.
Canning Town North, the 4th most deprived ward in London, will see an increase of 13 seconds in the first appliance response time and Canning Town South, the 5th most deprived, an alarming increase of 42 seconds
Local Labour London Assembly MemberJohn Biggs said:
“The London Fire Brigade’s own plan admits there is a link between fire and deprivation. The increase in attendance times for Canning Town North and South in Newham are truly scandalous and will put the poorest residents at greater risk. All because the Mayor wants to cut the council tax by a penny a day.
“Boris Johnson’s cuts to the London Fire Brigade are going to see winners and losers and for over 250,000 residents in the most deprived parts of Newham they are going to be worse off. How is this fair?
“I challenged the Mayor directly today about closing Silvertown fire station. Let’s hope he listens to our pleas on behalf of Londoners.
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