Fire merger could see lives lost -MP (From Tewkesbury Admag)

Fire merger could see lives lost -MP

COTSWOLD MP Geoffrey Clifton-Brown has slammed government plans to regionalise fire control centres.

Mr Clifton-Brown, whose constituency includes Moreton's Fire College, fears lives could be lost as a result of plans to merge county fire services.

The MP, strongly opposed to the plans, has tabled a series of highly detailed questions to Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott.

He will ask how areas where there is no radio signal will be administered and what the cost will be of dismantling the present fire control system and establishing the new regionalised one.

The new system will have to rely on mobile data terminals and Mr Clifton-Brown wants to know what trials will be carried out on the necessary equipment.

He said:"This Government rushes into plans to make savings in our public services without thinking through the consequences.

"I am concerned about the safety and well-being of my constituents and I must be sure that lives are not being put in jeopardy simply so that Mr Prescott can be seen to be saving a few pounds here and there. I shall continue to press the government on this vital issue until I am satisfied that lives are not at risk."

Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service divisional officer Derek Cross agreed the plans to merge seven brigades in the area to form one South West control room may have an impact, particularly on staff.

He said: "We value the control room staff greatly. It's a highly specialist, behind the scenes job. We're keen to not lose them, as it would be a real loss to the service. If plans do go ahead then hopefully they would go to the new control room but that would depend on the location."

He suspected the locality of the new regional control room would not be announced until after the summer.

"Whether there would be risks to lives would come down to the technicalities of the new system. However, they cope in London and they receive far higher calls than us so it is possible. It would be greatly down to the system put in place. If effective it could work fine."