Pic: Eastlondonlines

Hackney Council has backed legal action against Boris Johnson’s decision to close 10 fire stations in London, including three across the ELL boroughs.

The cost cutting measures would see Kingsland fire station in Hackney, Bow fire station in Tower Hamlets and Downham fire station in Lewisham, all closed as early as 16 September.

 The closure of Kingsland fire station – which deals with 1,500 incidents a year – could place up to a third of Hackney outside London Fire Brigade’s recommended response times.

In some wards, wait times will increase by as much three minutes 13 seconds, Hackney Council has said.

Hackney joins four other London local authorities, including Tower Hamlets, which are already pressing for a judicial revue.

The London Fire Authority had narrowly voted to reject the closures at the beginning of August, but the plans were forced through by London Mayor Boris Johnson.

Jules Pipe, Mayor of Hackney said: “I am shocked that the Mayor of London has ignored the decision of the fire authority in order to force through damaging cuts which will endanger lives in Hackney.

“These plans place the safety of ordinary people behind cost savings in importance and we will join with other local councils to challenge this decision in the courts.”

The closures are part of a wider cost cutting exercise aimed at making £28.8m of savings. The cuts will also see 552 firefighters across the capital lose their jobs.

As part of the plans, 14 of London’s fire engines will be taken out of action, whilst the minimum number of firefighters manning a fire rescue unit will be reduced from five to four.