Centralised fire control costs spiral

FIRE chiefs have warned that council tax payers in the South West may bear the brunt of the spiralling costs of a centralised control project.

At a meeting of the South West Regional Management Board this week, members raised their concerns about a possible seven to 10-month delay.

Fire authority chairman Bernard Hughes, said: "The costs would be a considerable burden on council tax payers if the authority had to pay.

"We are getting very close to a date that we have been working towards for a number of years but we have never been in a worse mess. The clock is ticking on at least five of our control centres, which are getting older by the day, we may have to make a decision to upgrade those controls in order to deliver."

The £350m scheme based at Taunton will be delayed further due to technology problems despite the building being largely complete and costing £5,000 a day to run.

The base, which was due to open in 2007, will take over from 46 smaller centres in the South West, including one in Exeter. Concerns were raised about the fire control payment, a central government grant to help with the setting up of the centre.

Clive Kemp, the scheme's project manager, said: "The biggest worry for us is the duration of the fire control payment, which is in place for three years. The Department for Communities and Local Government have said they cannot give a longer commitment and there is no guarantee that payments will continue for the duration of the project."

The scheme has been opposed by unions because of possible job losses and costs.

The board has drafted a letter to the project director and shadow minister, detailing their concerns about a delay.

At the meeting, Mr Hughes was re-elected as chairman and Terry Walker appointed vice-chairman.