Disappointment at fire service decision (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Disappointment at fire service decision

WILTSHIRE Fire and Rescue Service have spoken of their disappointment at the decision to build the new regional control centre in Taunton.

Deputy chief fire officer Eugene Johnson said: "We are disappointed as we have just spent a lot of time and effort into setting up the first true combined control centre at Devizes."

On Wednesday, the Government announced plans to scrap the 46 local control centres for the fire service and replace it with nine regional centres.

Wiltshire will be part of the south west area.

Mr Johnson claimed it was mainly female staff who would lose jobs when the move happens in the next few years.

"These are people with families, and they can't just uproot everything and move to Taunton.

"It is causing a great deal of uncertainty."

The government is currently producing a business plan, looking into the cost of creating nine regional fire control centres in England.

"Most of the public is concerned about the effect this change will have on services and we share these concerns."

"We await satisfaction from the government's report," added Mr Johnson.