WE GIVE TORY TONY ARBOUR OUR 999SOS PETITION

Last week I led a delegation to deliver a 700-signature petition opposing London's emergency services cuts to Conservative London Assembly member Tony Arbour.  Over 700 borough residents, including Seema Malhotra MP,  had signed the 999SOS petition over 3 short sessions across the borough.  People were queuing up to sign in Chiswick, Hounslow and Feltham Town Centres and we heard many stories from people - those who've used emergency services recently or who work in them.  Some had recent bad experiences, others have good reason to value London's Police, Ambulance Fire and Hospital services and are really worried about the proposed cuts.

Chiswick Campaign Stall

The petition said "The cuts are going too far and too fast. The millions of pounds being taken from the budgets of the NHS, the Met police and the London Fire Service will inevitably endanger families
and communities  across the capital."
 

Brentford Police Station - to close

THE SPECIFIC CUTS AS THEY AFFECT US;
 *   The Metropolitan Police's budget has been cut by 20%, or £540m, by 2015, at a time when some crime such as violent assault is up
 *   Since May 2010 the Metropolitan Police has lost 1,444 police officers and 1,960 PCSOs and Safer neighbourhood teams in Hounslow are being cut to just one PC and 1 PCSO each.
 *   Brentford and Feltham Police Stations will close, and only the
Hounslow station will have a 24/7 service
 *   the London Ambulance Service is losing 19% of its funding, whilst
at the same time Accident and Emergency departments at Ealing, Charing
Cross and Hammersmith are due to close, and waiting times at A&Es are
rising
 *   The fire brigade is facing cuts of £64.8m over the next 2 years -
a quarter of its budget.
 *   8 firefighters are due to go from Heston Fire Station in Isleworth.