Lib Dems Lead Fire Cuts Fight (Islington Liberal Democrats)

Islington Liberal Democrats <Islington_ld@cix.co.uk>

Lib Dems Lead Fire Cuts Fight

October 28, 2004 11:01 AM

Islington Lib Dem Councillors have slammed plans to cut two fire engines. Proposals announced this week would see Islington loosing a fire engine from upper street and Clerkenwell Fire stations next year.

Fire engines will be lost from across the capital in new safety plans, leading to longer waits for Islington residents in the case of emergency.

Councillor Laura Willoughby said

"These cuts mean it will take longer for fire engines to arrive and could put peoples lives at risk. Islington is major centre and a densely populated area with busy transport links - it is unbelievable that it has even been proposed. We will be challenging these plans.

"The first responsibility of the fire service is to protect residents and property from fire. Cuts to Islington will only endanger the lives of the thousands of people who live and work here."

Councillor Bridget Fox said

"At a time when our population is growing we can not afford to lose such a vital resource. Ken Livingston wants to cut our fire engines and we will fight him.

"Moving the engines into the outskirts of London is a disguise for a plan which will deprive the inner city, areas like Islington, of a quick response in emergencies. These proposals undermine the work that has been done to prepare central London for a terrorist attack. Not just residents but the millions of workers and visitors who come into this area rely on our fire service and we believe it is wrong that all our business rates should go to Gordon Brown while essential services like these are facing cuts."

Millions of residents, shoppers and workers in the centre of the capital will be put at risk from terror attack or King's Cross-style fires if the cuts go ahead, fire union leaders have warned. The Kings Cross fire demonstrated the necessity of having fire crews within easy reach of major transport centres. The stations that responded and saved hundreds of lives in this emergency now face major cuts, including the upper street station.

Islington Fire Facts

Islington has an average of 33 fires a week and is ranked eighth in London for the numbers of fires. Over a quarter of the businesses in Islington are categorised as a fire risk. Over 80 per cent of residents live in flats, maisonettes or apartments; property more likely to be affected by fire than houses or bungalows. Islington has the third highest rank for serious fire in London Islington has an average of 12 serious fires with commercial properties a month. Two fifths of all incidents have assistance from stations outside the borough.

43% of fires in Islington cause injury to people or damage to property Islington has at least 14 serious fires in an average week. There are about 17 fires a year in Islington's Schools and education buildings. Last year there were 5 deaths, 111 injuries and 222 rescues in incidents involving the fire brigade.