Clapham Fire Station was at the centre of the debate.
Protesters against the closure of Clapham Fire Station and 11 other stations around London staged a walk-out during Mayor’s Question Time yesterday.
Boris Johnson faced a barrage of questions over the proposed closures from London Assembly Members for over 45 minutes, amid heckling from fire-fighters and protesters.
Continuing to justify the closures, he failed to appease protest groups, causing them to leave the room chanting and heckling, adjourning the meeting immediately.
Liberal Democrat Assembly member Stephen Knight made Clapham Fire Station the prime example of response times increasing.
Using Clapham’s 1,500 capacity nightclub Infernos as an example, he said the time it would take for two fire engines to arrive there would rise from nine minutes to eighteen minutes as a result.
Mr Knight said: “This is about real safety. These are not emotive concerns, these are rational concerns about the safety of Londoners.”
Mr Johnson replied: “They are rational concerns and we are looking at all the constituencies that have raised particular concerns about particular fire stations. We are listening and we are reflecting.”
Labour member Jennette Arnold continued the debate, producing a 5,000 signature petition against Clapham Fire Station’s closure and accusing Mr Johnson of ensuring response times remain low in his resident constituency of Islington.
Mr Johnson ensured the cuts were not affected by personal bias concerning where his family reside and was outraged at her accusation, requesting she withdraw it.
Clapham Fire Station covers the largest area in London of all the fire stations which are proposed to close, with response times doubling if the plans go ahead.
Although the consultation closed on Monday, a decision is still yet to be made on the overall outcome, although it is thought it will be announced on July 18.
Mr Johnson added: “The paramount consideration has got to be safety. As long as I’m satisfied that we can continue to drive down deaths from fire and fire incidents in this city, then we will go ahead with the plan. We are now in the final stages of reflection.”
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