A CONTROVERSIAL decision to close Dorset's fire control room and open a South West control in Somerset could have life or death implications - according to the Fire Brigades Union.

On Wednesday the government announced the venue for the new South West regional fire control room.

Based at Blackbrook Office Park in Taunton and taking in Dorset, Devon, Cornwall, Avon, Somerset, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire, it will be responsible for an area the size of Denmark.

The decision comes despite opposition from Dorset Fire Authority, the Fire Brigades Union and control room operators. The project to close fire controls throughout the UK in favour of nine control rooms, each of which is responsible for numerous counties, will cost an estimated £1 billion.

The FBU has slammed the move as "wasteful and dangerous".

Karen Adams of the Dorset FBU added: "It's gambling efficiency of the fire service at a time when the threat of terrorism makes efficiency a matter of life or death. It is almost criminally irresponsible.

"It's going to mean less staff - in the South West, there'll be 50 control staff instead of 145.

"It is absolutely a matter of life or death. The changes will cost an extra £500,000 to the tax payer of Dorset.

"They have made this announcement at a time when all the MPs are on recess. We have collected 219 MPs' signatures on a motion expressing serious concerns about the project - some even want it scrapped. Regionalisation is their plan - next thing you know it'll be fire stations that are closing."

Although his Fire Authority strongly opposed regionalisation, Dorset's fire chief, Martin Chapman, says now a concrete decision has been made the brigade will try to make it work.

But he added: "I don't think the government listened to any fire authority." And he said retaining staff when they know their jobs are at risk eventually could prove difficult.

Dorset operators can apply to relocate to the new centre, but there are no guarantees they will be chosen - some 380 jobs will be lost nationally and there are fears that with fewer operators and less local knowledge, response times will be slower.

Jim Fitzpatrick, Parliamentary secretary at the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, said loss of local knowledge would be overcome by new technology that will pinpoint a caller's location.

He claimed the new system will save an estimated £20 million a year. It is expected to be operational by 2009.

First published: August 11