Safety fears over carnival

The Notting Hill Carnival is heading for a major tragedy unless its route is changed to ease overcrowding, a major report warns today.

It says "significant loss of life" could result from the street festival, which attracts one million revellers over the August Bank Holiday weekend, unless its route is changed to include Hyde Park. Mayor Ken Livingstone today called for the route to be changed for this year's event, adding: "Every year there isn't a fatality is a year we have been lucky."

Today's report was commissioned by the Greater London Authority after two people were murdered at the 2000 carnival and a

string of attacks occurred. It aims to find ways of securing the long-term future of Europe's largest street party, now in its 40th year, and make it less dependent on public funding.

The event costs the Met nearly £5.8million a year to police as it requires 11,000 officers and civilian staff.

The report warns that the current circular route through Notting Hill's narrow streets presents " significant risks to public safety" and will be unable to cope with expected increases in attendance.

It says: "Without a fundamental change to increase public safety and reduce crowd density, a major incident at the carnival could lead to significant loss of life."

Mr Livingstone said concerns about the carnival's safety had prevented it being promoted to tourists. He said with proper planning it could surpass the £93 million it generates for the London economy.

The report calls for Hyde Park to be used as a start or finish point from next year, and the use of Bayswater Road and Harrow-Road to create a linear-route. But Mr Livingstone said he wanted the police and local authorities to consider making the changes immediately.

The final decision on the route rests with Met commissioner Sir John Stevens.

Mr Livingstone told a City Hall press conference: "We can't honestly say to someone considering coming to carnival that they're as safe as they could be.

"If, after this carnival, a few people have been crushed to death, you would all be demanding what did we do to actively achieve this change."

But the report, which has taken three years to complete, was strongly dismissed by one of its panel members. Angie Bray, a Conservative London Assembly member, accused its authors of "scaremongering" and attempting to have the carnival passed to the Mayor's control.

Ms Bray said: "This is Ken Livingstone's attempt to take over carnival."