Apollo Theatre: Almost half fire stations that sent engines set to close

Three of the eight fire stations that sent engines to the Apollo Theatre last night are set to close in less than three weeks unless a court ruling at midday today blocks the plans.

>> Update 12:10pm: The court has ruled that the plans will go ahead. Story updated below:

Westminster, Knightsbridge and Southwark fire stations, whose teams attended the Apollo Theatre ceiling collapse last night, will now close on 9 January 2014 under proposals from the Mayor’s office to close 10 fire stations in London.

The High Court ruling today rested on “a very narrow issue […] about whether Boris [Johnson] acted unlawfully in the way he went about [the proposals],” a London Fire Brigade Union (LBFU) spokesperson told LondonlovesBusiness.com.

The now-confirmed plans for cuts to London’s fire services will see the loss of more than 500 fire brigade posts in London, in a bid to save £28.8m over two years.

Seven London councils that will be impacted by the cuts brought the legal challenge in a bid to stop the plans.

The councils have previously said the plans were “legally flawed” and “could put lives at risk”.

Following a long-running dispute over the cuts, Boris Johnson said in September, when the proposals were approved: “Ensuring that London’s fire service is financially stable and keeping Londoners safe are my top priorities.”

The LBFU also tweeted the news this morning:

Of the eight fire stations which sent engines to the Apollo Theatre, three will close in 20 days, thanks to Boris Johnson’s cuts.

— London FBU (@LondonFBU) December 20, 2013

Crews from Westminster, Knightsbridge & Southwark fire stations were sent to the Apollo Theatre. All earmarked for closure by the mayor.

— London FBU (@LondonFBU) December 20, 2013

 

 

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