This afternoon the regional Management Board for the Fire Service failed to endorse the Government’s plan to close all emergency fire control rooms and build one centre for the whole of Southern England.

The board meeting, lobbied by Control Staff and Firefighters from across the South and South East could not endorse the plans due to the lack of clarity and information given to the them by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Dean Mills, FBU executive council member said “The very people charged with implementing this ill thought out, uncosted plan have been unable to do so due to the total lack of credible information from central Government. Not only did Government try to hide the cost from local taxpayers but they are hiding the reduction in service they will receive if these controls go ahead.”

Today’s meeting in Reigate failed to allow enough space for all the control Staff and firefighters present to enter the committee room. Just 15 people were allowed in despite this being a public meeting. Members present said they would ensure that the next meeting was attended by even more firefighters and control staff who were angry at being shut out.

Nick Raynsford, Government Minister, said earlier today that the proposed technology was safe despite all the failings of other Government schemes such as the new Air Traffic control system which failed completely last summer.

Peter Miller FBU Regional Secretary said “The Government report assesses the risk, in their own words, of ‘delay or even total project failure’ as very high/high. This is because ‘the recent history of delivering IT/change projects in the public sector has demonstrated a less than 50% success rate’. This hardly seems to be the ‘Safe System’ Nick Raynsford is promising.”

The entire UK-wide project will cost a minimum of £754,500,000 to set up and run. Hundreds of highly skilled emergency fire control staff would lose their jobs.

Mr Mills said “Today’s demonstration by Firefighters and Control Staff on behalf of the public was another step in the campaign against a plan which will endanger the public and cost the taxpayer millions of pounds. It’s not only an extremely costly system but one which will cost lives.

“The 110 page confidential Government report never once mentions saving more lives it simply states time and again Government dogma. We can’t stand back and watch the public being forced to pay millions of pounds just so they can be put at greater risk”

Contacts:

Dean Mills 07956 502 585

Sharon Eames 07917 065 865

Peter Miller 07917 065 866