Cllr Tulip Siddiq fears axing Belsize Fire Station will have an effect on neighbouring areas

A councillor has called on Mayor of London Boris Johnson to reconsider plans which will see fire stations across the capital close and fire-fighters and fire engines removed.

Under the plans; 12 fire stations and 18 engines will be lost across the capital as well as 520 fire fighter jobs.

Among the stations listed for closure in the £45m cost saving drive is Belsize Fire Station in Lancaster Grove and it is feared the closure will impact on neighbouring Kilburn given its engines are often used as back up for fires in the area.

But Mr Johnson, who was at the launch of a mobile swimming pool in Camden this morning got more than he bargained for when he was presented with a strongly worded letter from Cllr Tulip Siddiq calling on him to reconsider the controversial plans.

Cllr Siddiq, who recently threw her hat into the ring as one of the Labour party’s parliamentary hopefuls for the Hampstead and Kilburn seat, says in the letter “now is not the time to put politics ahead of lives.”

The letter adds: “You may be aware that there was a march last weekend in my local constituency to protest against the closure of Belsize Fire Station.

“The sheer number of people attending showed how deep the emotion and support is for our fire stations

“The London fire authority voted against these cuts on the grounds that they would endanger public safety, and I believe the cuts will risk the lives of Londoners, and they must not be allowed to happen.”

The London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority is currently consulting on the proposals.