Fire station exasperation

10:43am Friday 16th May 2008

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Your coverage of the fire in Craig Mount in Radlett highlights yet again the need for Hertfordshire County Council to reappraise their decision to close Radlett Fire Station (Fire sweeps through flat,' May 2).

One of the original justifications for the decision to close the fire station was that the average number of dwellings fires in Radlett was less than five per year.

Yet, in the year following the fire station's closure, Radlett suffered eight primary fires.

Another reason given was that the Radlett area is predominantly a very low-risk residential area. A risk assessment of Radlett does not substantiate this.

Risk assessment needs to consider development in the area. Radlett is a growing community with substantial building projects. Many of these developments are, like Craig Mount, flats. There are already 11 other developments of this type in Radlett.

In the event of a fire emergency, higher numbers are at risk. A development of 400 houses in Harper Lane and the possibility of a massive development in Park Street further add to potential increasing demand on the emergency services.

There is still a strong and active action group in Radlett. SOFAR stands for Support Our Fire and Rescue. Like all other members of the group I will continue to campaign for the reopening of the fire station.

The community of Radlett wants to see the return of a fire crew to the currently empty purpose-built fire station building in the centre of Radlett.

Fortunately, the fire in Craig Mount occurred at around 7am on a Sunday, a time when traffic conditions were optimum for the emergency services. Traffic conditions are not always so good.

The community would be safer for the return of a local crew and our neighbours in Borehamwood would benefit as the Borehamwood fire crews would once again have Radlett's traditional support.

Jane Sheridan Gills Hill Lane, Radlett