A GOVERNMENT Minister officially handed over a new “super fire control centre” in Warrington to the fire authorities.
The centre, due to become fully operational in 2011, will combine the separate control rooms now used by Merseyside, Cheshire, Lancashire, Cumbria and Greater Manchester.
It has proved controversial because of concerns that those directing emergency vehicles will not have sufficient local knowledge.
There are also fears about job cuts in the current standalone control rooms, including Bootle.
It was revealed earlier this year that the regional centre, designed to create savings for Merseyside Fire Authority, would actually cost £500,000 more every year. The regional centre will eventually become part of a new national network.
Fire Minister Sadiq Khan yesterday handed over the building to the North West Fire Control Company (NWFCC), owned by the five separate fire and rescue authorities.
