The Government has confirmed it will press ahead with hugely controversial and expensive plans to regionalise fire control in the Westcountry.

Firefighters' unions yesterday accused the new administration of "abolishing the wrong thing" after it announced that fire authorities would no longer have to go through regional management boards to make certain decisions.

Whitehall says the move will hand power back to local areas, but firefighters say the only real difference would lie in scrapping the regional control centre to save crucial funds.

However, the Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) confirmed for the first time that plans to centralise six fire control centres – from Wiltshire to the Isles of Scilly – in Taunton, will go ahead. A CLG spokesman said it was the most "cost-effective" option with the best potential results.

The news came as Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service celebrated the removal of direct Government supervision, in recognition of its progress since it was rated as "poor" in 2009.

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) yesterday accused the new coalition of failing to fulfil manifesto promises to scrap centres such as that in Taunton, which is currently costing the taxpayer £5,000 per day, despite standing virtually empty.

John Drake, South West secretary of the FBU, said: "We want the Government to stop tinkering around the edges, and scrap regional fire control centres, as both parties promised they would in their manifestos. Let's be blunt about it – they have abolished the wrong thing. The Government says it is getting rid of all aspects of regionalisation, but what it should be doing is getting rid of the regional fire control."

The FBU has calculated that, despite not being used as a control centre, the new building will cost £430,000 to run between the formation of the new coalition and MPs returning from summer recess. John Drake said the sum was the equivalent of manning St Austell fire station for a year.

"It has been an absolute fiasco throughout – it has gone through seven years, two governments, and eight fire ministers, and yet we're still paying," he added.

The Regional Management Board (RMB) membership was made up of representatives from each fire authority in the South West. It is unrelated to the running of the planned fire control centre, which will be managed by a private contractor. Up to now, the Government dictated what the RMB discussed, and intervened in matters such as adherence to the national framework, equality and diversity and workforce development. The RMB will still exist, but participation will be voluntary, and the agenda will be set locally.

The FBU has raised concerns that the new organisation could be "behind closed doors", with no obligation for meetings to be open to the press and public.

But Lance Kennedy, Cornwall Council's cabinet member for community safety and neighbourhoods, said he would ensure the new format remained as open as ever. He said the RMB and fire control issues were "totally unrelated", and said the changes would mean local fire chiefs had more power to set a meaningful agenda.

He said of the regional fire control centre: "I'm totally opposed to any waste of money. If what is on the table is an improvement for Cornwall, then that will determine what recommendation we make when the council decides whether to sign up with the contract in the new centre. If it's detrimental, and it costs more money, that's something the council will consider."

Mr Kennedy said he was "delighted" that the Government has ended supervision of Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service, and said it was testimony to the "tremendous" progress made. He said: "The frontline service has always been excellent. The problem lay with the management and members, and that situation has radically changed. We now have excellent senior management who are doing a wonderful job, and far greater involvement from members."

He said the overview and scrutiny committee had set up a panel to oversee the ongoing progress of the service.

Yesterday, Fire Minister Bob Neill spoke at an event to bring fire and rescue services from across the country together. He said: "Fire and rescue services are mature enough and professional enough to make their own decisions and to work together to make continuous improvements. I know the sector is keen to step up and show that they are more than capable of supporting their own."

A CLG spokesman said: "The fire control centres are going ahead. The Government has calculated that the best way forward is for contractor EADS to deliver the main system, because it offers the best service and the best value for the taxpayer."