London firefighters sent voluntary redundancy offers (From News Shopper)

London firefighters sent voluntary redundancy offers

9:37am Wednesday 17th October 2012 in Bromley By George Sargent

LONDON firefighters have been offered voluntary redundancy ahead of a £64.8m cut in the London Fire Brigade two-year budget.

Civilian staff at the brigade have also received the offer of redundancy with an additional offer of £10,000.

The London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority (LFEPA), which runs London’s stations, has said up to 30 across the capital might have to close to cut spending.

James Cleverly, chairman of the LFEPA , said last week: “Nowhere in London will be more than six minutes away on average from a fire station.

“We will be keeping the target time of six minutes.”

“Even in the worst case scenario it’s not going to be as serious as the reports going around are saying.”

London Mayor Boris Johnson told News Shopper: “What I can say is that fire cover in London will remain as good as we can possible make it.

“We will ensure that we continue to make London as ever safer and ever less vulnerable to fire.

“The figures at the moment have been very good, I congratulate London on what they have been doing and safety has got to be out priority.”