New fire control centre announced

The control room will be at the Cambridge Research Park

The location of a new central fire control centre for the East has been revealed by the government.

A control room in Cambridge will deal with emergency calls from Cambs, Suffolk, Norfolk, Essex, Beds and Herts, it was announced on Wednesday.

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) had opposed the plans on the grounds that they would rob control room staff of vital local knowledge.

But the government said the proposal was necessary to modernise the service.

A spokesman for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister said the new control room, which is planned to be up and running by 2008, would equip the fire service "for the demands of the 21st Century".

'Little support'

He said it would be based at the Cambridge Research Park, Cambridge.

It is one of seven new regional control rooms across the country announced on Wednesday.

Following the announcement, Suffolk County Council's portfolio holder for public protection, Joanna Spicer, said she was concerned at the decision.

"The government's decision to change to regional fire control centres has had little support," she said.

Suffolk County Council has expressed concern at the plan

"In Suffolk we have always expressed strong concerns about the proposal, challenging and scrutinizing it at each stage on behalf of our staff and everyone in the county.

"We now know where the Government plans the location to be and we must accept the decision and work as an authority to support and work with our valued control room staff."

Norfolk's Chief Fire Officer David Worsley said: "The new control centre at Cambridge aims to not only benefit the East of England but will help deliver a more resilient fire and rescue service for the country as a whole."

Cambridgeshire's Chief Fire Officer Tom Carroll said: "I am delighted that the announcement has been made, it gives us clarity and allows us to move forward.

"I'm also delighted Cambridgeshire has been chosen but in my delight I'm not forgetting the fact that I'll have five very disappointed colleagues elsewhere in the East of England."

He said people would continue to receive a high standard of service and safety would remain a top priority.