Fire control centre handed over

The centre will not open until the end of 2009

A new control centre for the East Midlands is being handed over to the local fire and rescue services.

The centre - the first of its kind in England - will handle all fire emergency calls made in the region.

The government has said the Castle Donington facility will allow a quicker and easier response to calls. It is expected to open in late 2009.

But the Fire Brigades Union has opposed the plans, saying they could lead to a reduction in service.

Job losses

The centre will co-ordinate fire services across five counties - Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire and Northamptonshire.

Nine new centres will replace the existing 46 control rooms in England.

Government minister Parmjit Dhanda will inspect the new three-storey building which will serve some 4.2 million people throughout the region as well as being part of the national network.

There will be some job losses associated with the move to the new centre because fewer staff will be needed, but the government has said it hoped to avoid compulsory redundancies.