Twickenham fire station expected to be spared (From Richmond and Twickenham Times)

Twickenham fire station expected to be spared

10:51am Thursday 10th January 2013 in News By Rachel Bishop

Twickenham fire station is expected to stay open despite previous fears over closures, claim London Assembly members.

The station was thought to be under threat after London Mayor Boris Johnson told London’s fire service it needed to cut £65m from its two year budget.

London Fire Commissioner Ron Dobson highlighted £15m of back office cuts, but a further £50m of savings must be made elsewhere.

London Fire Brigade submitted a range of possible proposals that highlighted areas where the axe could fall.

Both options to save £50m included recommendations to close Twickenham and Chiswick fire stations and remove of one of two engines at Kingston.

Councillor Stephen Knight, Liberal Democrat London Assembly member and leader of the opposition on Richmond Council, said it now looked unlikely that Twickenham fire station would shut.

He said: “Working on the best information we had at the time it did look like Twickenham was at risk.

“I certainly don’t think it’s fair to accuse us of scaremongering. We were just presenting the options that were on the table at the time.”

Councillor Tony Arbour, who is a member of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority (LFEPA), said that he does not expect there to be any reduction in fire cover for Richmond.

He said: "I have been concerned by the scaremongering statements which Liberal Democrats are circulating suggesting that one or other of our fire stations in Richmond or Twickenham may have to close.

“I have been a member of LFEPA for many years and I know that logistically, for fire safety, these stations have to remain open.”

Formal proposals were due to be submitted on Friday, January 11.