Published: January 19, 2012
by DAN CARRIER

HE has been first with the news for two decades, the newspaper seller that Fleet Street reporters would surround in the early hours to get the first editions of rival titles.

But now Eugene O’Regan, who has run a kiosk outside King’s Cross station since 1992, has been told he will no longer be able to sell papers at the site.

This follows Camden Council planning committee’s rubber-stamping on Thursday of plans by Network Rail to demolish the worn-out front facade of the station and create a new plaza. The original, grade-II listed frontage – designed in the 1850s by Lewis Cubitt – will be restored as part of a £400m renovation of the station.

Mr O’Regan, who works from 10pm to 6am, said: “They have said they don’t want us here because they have to place security bollards on the edge of the plaza and they will be too close to our kiosk.

“But the real reason is Network Rail wish to maximise their profits by offering a franchise to other people in the new departure area and the new kiosks.

“We have worked hard over the years and are now set to lose our livelihoods because of this redesign. It is grossly unfair.”

A Network Rail spokesman said the kiosk had to go in the interests of the overall design of the new square.

He added: “Architects have designed the public square to provide a good balance between open space, pedestrian flow and key facilities.

“We appreciate there is a demand for some retail facilities at the front of the station and have incorporated a coffee shop and larger kiosk area into the London Underground ventilation shafts. We expect to be in a position to go out to tender for these leases next year and the current kiosk operator is welcome to make a bid through this process.”