Camden Council officially lodged its fierce objections to plans to close Belsize fire station with City Hall this week.

Ham & High: Alexander, seven, turned out to support Belsize fire station at a march earlier this year. Picture: Polly HancockAlexander, seven, turned out to support Belsize fire station at a march earlier this year. Picture: Polly Hancock (Image: Archant)

The council submitted a robust response to the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority’s (LFEPA’s) consultation, which came to a close on Monday.

As part of a detailed response, the council said: “Camden Council disagrees with the proposals to reduce the number of stations in the capital, in particular the suggestion to close Belsize and Clerkenwell fire stations.”

It added: “We know fires spread fast and every second counts, so increases of over three minutes [in fire response times] in Belsize for example could have disastrous consequences.”

The LFEPA, the political body which runs the London Fire Brigade, was consulting on plans to close 12 fire stations, including Belsize, and scrap 18 engines and 520 jobs in a bid to save £28.8million.

Camden is the hardest-hit borough under the proposals, facing the biggest increase in average attendance times in London.

In Belsize ward, residents will have to wait more than three minutes extra for an engine, while five other wards will see an increase of a minute or more.