999 centre is on the move (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

999 centre is on the move

THERE was anger today as ministers announced a fire control centre in Wiltshire will be replaced with a state-of-the-art regional base in Somerset.

Under the scheme people in Swindon who dial 999 in a fire emergency will be put through to an operator more than 70 miles away in Taunton.

The 46 existing control rooms are to be merged into nine regional ones.

Wiltshire will be within the south west region.

Blackbrook Business Park in Taunton was chosen after taking into account factors such as accessibility, demographics and suitability for development.

When moves were being discussed, Joe Tray, the Wiltshire branch secretary of the Fire Brigade Union, said he was "totally disgusted" by the plans. The FBU claimed lives could be put at risk due to a lack of local knowledge in larger centres.

The Government hopes the new network of control centres and major investment will help to modernise the fire service and equip it for the demands of the 21st century.

Wiltshire Chief Fire Officer Andy Goves said: "Naturally we are disappointed that the new control centre is not in Wiltshire.

"We have a first class workforce in our local control centre in Devizes and have pioneered combined fire, police and ambulance control rooms.

"However we do accept that this project is part of the national picture and in that situation there are winners and losers.

"We know that while our staff are disappointed, there are good opportunities for those who are able to move to the new facility."

The announcement means the fire service will have to pull out of the combined control centre for Wiltshire, based in Devizes.

The centre, which pulls together the three emergency services for the county, was set up less than two years ago, at a cost of £10m.

Most of the 22 staff employed at the centre will be asked to travel to Taunton. But up to 25 per cent could lose their jobs.

Announcing the decision this morning, Fire Services Minister Jim Fitzpatrick said: "The national network will provide the fire and rescue service with a modern, effective system that will better protect the public.

"The control centres will use the latest proven technology which will not only enable firefighters to respond more quickly to incidents but improve their safety by providing accurate information before they reach the scene.

"There is a compelling need to modernise and rationalise the control rooms in England, as part of the overall modernisation agenda.

"In the wake of the events of July 7, we need control centres that are resilient enough to deal with a terrorist attack or any natural disaster."