Calls to abandon plans to cut £1.6 million from a fire service's budget have been turned down by councillors.

Labour councillors on West Sussex County Council yesterday urged their town hall colleagues to reconsider £1.6 million of cuts to West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service over fears for public safety.

The council rubberstamped the cost-saving exercise last month - resulting in the loss of four fire engines and 18 firefighters across the county.

Second fire engines at Midhurst, Petworth, and Storrington are being cut as well as the third fire engine at Crawley.

Lionel Barnard, cabinet member for residents' services, which has responsibility for fire and rescue in the county, said cuts would create a fire service “fit for the 21st Century.”

But Labour councillor Michael Jones yesterday warned lives would be lost if the cuts went ahead - and instead called on the council to find £1.6 million from the council's “£15 million budget under spend”.

However his motion to halt the cuts was voted down at a full council meeting at County Hall.

Cllr Jones said: “I sincerely want to tell the cabinet member he's making a terrible mistake by cutting the fire service budget. Fire representatives have repeatedly warned this will impact on public safety.

“This council already has budget under spend of £15 million of annual early savings identified which could easily absorb this £1.6 million.Why can't some of this money be used to cover it?”

UKIP councillor Lionel Parsons supported the motion. He said: “Are we here to save lives or save money? I think we're putting on a lot of pressure on our fire officers.”

However Conservative councillor Lionel Barnard said a “significant” consultation process preceded the decision to cut the fire service's budget.

He added: “The cut of £1.6 million has been called against an original £2.4 million. I've said quite clearly these changes are necessary to bring the service up to date and fit to purpose. It should be carried out even if the savings were not required.”

Fellow Conservative councillor Jim Rae said Labour's unsubstantiated claims were “nothing but scaremongering”.

The motion was lost after 28 councillors voted against it, compared to 18 for and two abstentions.

Francis Bishop, West Sussex FBU branch secretary, described the cuts as “detrimental for the future safety of firefighters and the people of West Sussex.”