Regionalisation figures wanted (From Gazette Series)

Regionalisation figures wanted

THE FIRE BRIGADE is demanding precise figures on how much the regionalisation of fire control rooms will cost the taxpayer.

Planned merging of the seven South-West control rooms into super centre is shrouded in financial mystery, says the union.

"Despite cost and efficiency savings being one of the reasons for the proposed control rooms, the government has been unable to state exactly what the cost of these centres will be. This inability or unwillingness to disclose the full cost of the merger to the South-West taxpayer is totally unacceptable," a spokesman said.

"Whilst Ministers are happy to speak about the openness of MPs' expenditure and government in general they remain tight lipped regarding the cost of the highly dangerous plans for a Regional Fire Control room."

Kevin Herniman, Avon FBU secretary, said: "The financial cost to working people in Avon is not yet known this is a disgraceful state of affairs, we are being expected to accept paying an unknown amount of money for a service which fire service professionals accept will be below the extremely high standards that are currently afforded to the public.

In a report to Wotton Town council last week Cllr Dr John Cordwell said in his county councillor capacity: "The decision of the government to only shortlist three private companies to run the fire service in the south west region has been a considerable disappointment to the Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service.

"It will mean that the highly successful tri-Service centre, opened just 18 months ago, will lose its fire control to a remote regional centre at an undisclosed location.

"The county council, in partnership with the police and the ambulance authorities, have invested £6.5 million of public money to ensure the tri-service centre is the success it is today. The government is about to destroy this. The county council intends to put up a fight."

Liberal Democrat councillors across the county are backing the fight to save Gloucestershire's tri-service centre

Cabinet member responsible for the fire service Cllr Jeremy Hilton launched the campaign to save Waterwells in Quedgeley immediately the Government's announcement was made last week.

At a recent meeting between Cllr Hilton and Government Minister Nick Raynsford, the centre was praised by the Minister for the what had been achieved. The subsequent decision to rip the heart out of the centre has shocked councillors at Shire Hall.

Cllr Liz Boait said: " The centre has been running superbly for the last 18 months. Over £6 million of taxpayers' money has been invested in this project and now the government intends to throw away the resources committed to this pioneering project."