Annette backs call to keep fire control centres local

TUC: The TUC has called for for all aspects of local fire and rescue services to remain under local democratic control. Annette Mansell-Green of UNISON and Chair of the TUC General Purposes Committee told congress that moving away from local control centres would be bad for the service as you need the local knowledge of the area when the emergency call comes in.

Not having this knowledge could add additional time and reduce the speed of the emergency service reaching the incident.

Congress condemned Government plans for the regionalisation of emergency fire controls in England. Plans that are being pushed ahead “despite the escalating costs, the lack of support within the fire and rescue service and very clear evidence that this initiative will lead to a poorer level of service to the public, as well as threatening firefighter safety”.