Latest fire service figures for London 'show' (if believed) a nearly 50% drop in calls across Hillingdon.

This news is curious timing as the figures have been known for a while. Could it be anything to do with the news due in seven weeks or so, the London Fire Brigade are going to announce how they go about making huge savings after a massive 23% cut to their budget?

What the LFB haven't mentioned is that they are struggling to meet attendance time targets (how long it takes for a fire engine to reach a call) in Hillingdon, in fact the LFB's performance in our Borough is one of the worst in London. Rumours are that along with the cuts, there will be a change in how attendance times are measured which will help massage the figure and make them look more positive.

So despite us lot in Hilingdon getting the worst value for money from the LFB, you should expect significant cuts to the fire station near you by April 2013.

Does this mean the portion of my council tax which goes towards the fire brigade will also be cut?

Clearly the answer is no and I was being flippant...... But those expenses and unfunded pensions have to be paid for somehow!!

People won't give a to$$ though at least till people start dying in fires because the FB cannot get there in time.

This is part of the problem although they will never admit it...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/sep/06/mps-expenses-bill-rises-quarter?newsfeed=true

Yep, the FB are there in case they are needed. The time will come when there aren't enough due to 'circumstances'

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Lets be careful out there !

The scary thing is that, despite being in 'London" (as opposed to rural Cumbria of Cornwall) living in Hillingdon, we already get a raw deal 999- wise:

Ambulance: 8 weeks ago, I dialled 999 for an ambulance to take my wife to A&E as she was suffering from severe post operative pains. I had to call 999 on two further occasions before an ambulance rolled up in 45 mins

Police: BBC's Panorama last week discussed 999 responses and, revealed that following a FOI request, the BBC found that Hillingdon Borough Police responses were amongst the 3 worst in the UK Police forces

Fire: And the LFB know (but wont admit) they are struggling to get to calls within target times in Hillingdon and will be changing their methodology soon to hide such failings - plus introducing major cuts next April.

(Quite seriously) - Let's be careful out there

That's all rather scary!