Terror fear over fire cuts

Fire stations and crews serving London's busiest areas are to be axed, the Evening Standard can reveal.

Millions of residents, shoppers and workers in the centre of the capital will be put at risk from terror attack or King's Cross-style fires if the cuts go ahead, fire union leaders warned today.

Leaked plans show that central London's fire service is set for deep cuts. Manchester Square station, covering Oxford Street, is earmarked for closure to save £2million a year. Nine other stations including Euston, Kensington, Knightsbridge and Westminster will each lose a fire engine.

Manchester Square, which has long been protected because it serves Oxford Circus, Tottenham Court Road, Bond Street and Marble Arch Tube stations, currently has two engines and crews. It provides instant response for Oxford Street, Europe's most visited shopping district.

The London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority will announce the proposals tomorrow when it unveils its London Safety Plan for 2005/6. The leaked plans show that all the stations targeted serve large Tube stations.

Euston also provides front-line cover for mainline train stations at Euston, St Pancras and King's Cross. Westminster fire station in Horseferry Road, which will see its two fire engines cut to one, serves the Houses of Parliament and Whitehall.

Val Shawcross, Labour chair of the fire authority, has agreed the plans with Mayor Ken Livingstone despite objections from Tory-run Westminster council. In a bid to project the changes as neutral overall, the cuts will be balanced by extra fire engines for the suburbs.

But both the Fire Brigades Union and senior Tory MPs warn the moves would put the capital at increased risk of massive casualties from a terrorist attack or Tube fire. The FBU's London spokesman Mick Shaw said: "With huge numbers of residents, tourists and shoppers, the last thing central London needs is cuts in firefighters.

"We have seen from incidents such as the King's Cross fire and the Madrid train bombings that you need a fire brigade response as quickly as possible."

He pointed out that the 17th anniversary of the King's Cross fire, in which 31 people died, is in a couple of weeks. Euston crews were among the first on the scene and rescued hundreds.

"We had a rise in funding last year precisely to help respond to the threat of a terror attack. Londoners want assurance that they will have the best protection possible," said Mr Shaw. Extra engines for suburbs such as Finchley and Heston simply reverse previous cuts, he added.

Shadow homeland security minister Patrick Mercer said: "Millions of people travelling through and living in London rely on these services. What is the point of cutting the very people who are on the spot when a big emergency happens?"

Simon Milton, leader of Westminster council, said a reduction in cover "can't be justified".

But London Fire Commissioner Ken Knight denied lives would be put in jeopardy. "Londoners can be reassured no changes are planned that will put people at risk in the capital," he said. "On the contrary I will be proposing major improvements to the service by redirecting our resources to where they will make the most difference to save lives and prevent fires.

"Investment in new rescue equipment and training will continue to ensure the brigade can deal with terrorism and any major incidents.

"I am proposing the closure of Manchester Square station because nearby stations can meet the call demands to give local residents and businesses the emergency response they need."