FIRE stations across Greenwich borough could be closed under dramatic cost-cutting plans by the London Fire Brigade.

The Mayor of London Boris Johnson has instructed the brigade to save £65 million over the next two years. Up to 30 stations, 30 fire engines and 840 jobs across London are now under threat.

Greenwich borough is a particular target for cuts according to an internal report leaked to Greenwich.co.uk. Members of the London Fire authority were told recently that:

“One appliance stations are an expensive way of providing the service… In Greenwich, it costs some £940k pa more [than similar boroughs], because it is delivered mostly from one-appliance stations”

Greenwich, East Greenwich, Eltham, Woolwich, and Lee Green fire stations are all currently run with just one fire engine. Only Plumstead fire station has two. By contrast Bexley has just three fire stations covering the whole borough.

Under a proposal being considered by the brigade, only one-appliance stations will be targeted for closure.

Excerpt from leaked document

Any closures could significantly increase the time it takes firefighters to reach incidents in the borough. According to internal brigade statistics, response times for two-appliance stations are up to three times longer on average, than for areas covered by single-appliance stations.

The proposals have reignited fears of strike action. A spokesperson for the Fire Brigade Union told Greenwich.co.uk:

“It is very difficult to see at this stage how they will be able to carry out such deep cuts without compromising public safety and reducing the level of fire cover in parts of London. When it comes to fire, seconds count, and quick response times are crucial. If we believe any proposals would jeopardise the safety of Londoners, we will do everything in our power to resist their implementation.”

Asked about station closures earlier this month the Mayor’s chairman of the Fire Authority James Cleverly pointed out that the number of fires across London has dramatically reduced in recent years. Over the last 12 years the number of fires in London has fallen from 48,000 a year to just 27,000.

A spokesperson for the London Fire Brigade said today:

“Like virtually every other public service, the brigade is facing the need to make savings. The Mayor has given a target for these savings, and we are considering our response to this. All options are being considered but no decisions have yet been made.”

A full list of stations threatened with closure will be released in November.

UPDATED

Nick Raynsford MP provided this comment in response to the story above:

“As the Government’s austerity programme bites harder, it is clear that serious spending cuts are being considered at City Hall affecting the Metropolitan Police Service and the London Fire Brigade. These could well have a disastrous impact on front-line services, including the downgrading of Neighbourhood Police Teams, the loss of fire appliances and closure of Police and Fire Stations.

While not opposed to efficiency savings which have no adverse impact on public safety, I will be scrutinising very closely any proposals which could increase the risk of harm to the public through crime, fire or other emergency, and will strenuously oppose and such cuts that threaten the safety of Greenwich and Woolwich”.

HUGH PLAYER has been appointed as the new Director of Greenwich Hospital.

Player will replace Martin Sands who is retiring as boss of the naval charity that owns large parts of maritime Greenwich.

The new man in charge is a former Royal Marine and was most recentlythe Chief Executive of St Martin-in-the-Fields church.

He commented: “I am delighted and honoured to be the first Director of Greenwich Hospital to be appointed from a commercial charitable background.

“My intentions are to build on the solid foundations inherited from Martin Sands and to ensure Greenwich Hospital is able to develop its charitable outputs whilst continuing to be a force for good in the community and remaining at the heart of Maritime Britain.”

Outgoing boss Martin Sands said:

“I have enjoyed steering Greenwich Hospital through challenging economic times. With career experiences in the private and charitable sectors, coupled with Historic Royal Palaces, Hugh will be well placed to work with our stakeholders in developing Greenwich Hospital’s key roles.”

Mr Player takes up his position on September 24th.

Greenwich Hospital recently told traders at Greenwich Market that there will be no start to its controversial redevelopment of the market for at least another year.

PEDESTRIANS and cyclists will be able to use the Avenue running through Greenwich Park from later this week.

Limited access to the road through the park will be restored from September 14th, six days later than was previous planned.

London 2012 organisers put the delay down to the  “large amounts of infrastructure that must be removed, and the large amount of construction lorries required to take equipment away.”

Cyclists will be able to use the Avenue in both directions between 6am and 8.30am, and from 5.30pm until Park closing times. It’s due to reopen fully, including for use by cars, on October 1st.

Graham Dear, Greenwich Park Manager, The Royal Parks, said: “Work to reinstate the areas of the Park used for the Cross Country event is already well underway and progress is good and we are now preparing to reinstate the remaining areas of the park once all the temporary infrastructure is removed. Meanwhile, it is great to see local people already making use of the large areas of the park which began to reopen in early August.”

No tennis until October

Anyone inspired by Andy Murray’s historic US Open win in the early hours of this morning will have to wait a little longer to take to the courts in Greenwich Park.

It’s been announced that the reopening of the tennis courts in the park has been delayed from mid-September until the beginning of October. A temporary surface was laid over the courts and fences taken down temporarily during London 2012 so that horses could use it as a warm-up area.

Murray, the first British male to win a Grand Slam since 1936, will be in action in Greenwich in November when he competes in the ATP World Tour Finals at the O2.