TORIES VOTE TO SCRAP TRISERVICE FIRE CONTROL (Jeremy Hilton)

TORIES VOTE TO SCRAP TRISERVICE FIRE CONTROL

May 15, 2009 8:10 AM

Jeremy Hilton & Chris Witts at TriService Fire Control

Senior Conservative councillors have voted in favour of scrapping Gloucestershire's TriService fire control.

At Monday's meeting of the Local Government Association Fire Services Committee, Conservative and Labour councillors voted together to support the implementation of regional fire controls.

Attending the meeting, Liberal Democrat leader Cllr. Jeremy Hilton attempted to change LGA policy in favour of retaining the TriService fire control in Gloucestershire. He only drew support from his Lib Dem colleagues.

Tory members dismissed their own party's green paper, which suggested the regional control centre project could be axed.

The Tories did not want to change LGA policy preferring the status quo.

Jeremy Hilton argued that the TriService Centre did the county proud during the 2007 floods and fire control should stay. Opened in 2003 at cost of £6.5m the TriService Centre has been praised by the Audit Commission.

Cllr. Hilton told the committee that by end of June all fire appliances in Gloucestershire will be fitted with the new radio/data equipment. Voice communications will be activated with the TriService Centre. Data capability is possible if the council gave permission to proceed with an upgrade of the control room.

Jeremy Hilton commented after the meeting:

"The TriService fire control is unsafe in the hands of the blue and red teams - only the Liberal Democrats can save it. We have the will, the policy and know how - to keep the TriService fire control open.

"The Tories in Gloucestershire have accepted a government cash handout to close our fire control. Cabinet member Cllr. Will Windsor-Clive is a director of the Taunton Regional Control Centre company. It has scheduled October 2011 as the date the TriService fire control will close."

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