The judicial review which challenged the Fifth London Safety Plan has not been successful.
The seven London boroughs who challenged the plan have also confirmed that they will not appeal, meaning that the reductions in fire stations and fire appliances will proceed as planned, on 9 January 2014.
The Fifth London Safety Plan details how the Fire Authority will deliver the capital’s fire and rescue service over the next three years, and includes plans agreed on 12 September 2013 to close 10 fire stations and reduce the number of fire engines by 14.
Chairman of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority, James Cleverly said:
“The London Safety Plan was carefully and professionally produced and sets out how we will continue to deliver an excellent fire and rescue service for Londoners. The Plan also includes efficiencies that will achieve a saving of £29m, making a significant contribution to the £45m we need to make over the next two years.
“I welcome today’s decision which allows us to remove the uncertainty hanging over our staff and proceed to implementation.”
The application for judicial review was made by the seven London boroughs of Islington, Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Southwark, Camden, Lewisham and Greenwich, and an individual claimant.
The ten fire stations due to close are Belsize, Bow, Clerkenwell, Downham, Kingsland, Knightsbridge, Silvertown, Southwark, Westminster and Woolwich.
On 12 September 2013 the Fire Authority agreed the date for the station closures would be the 9 January 2014.
In summary the Plan (which was revised and presented on 18 July) includes:
• The closure of 10 fire stations
• Reducing the number of fire engines (pumping appliances) by 14
• Reducing the number of fire rescue units (specialist rescue vehicles) from 16 to14
• Reducing minimum crewing levels on fire rescue units from 5 firefighters to 4
• Reducing the number of firefighter posts
• Introducing alternate crewing arrangements at some stations
• Reducing the number of station and group managers to a total of 256, and then ultimately a further reduction to 200