Scottish Liberal Democrats are throwing their weight behind local fire control rooms ahead of a crucial meeting on the future direction of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.
Proposals are being considered which would close five out of Scotland’s eight fire control centres immediately – Aberdeen, Inverness, Dumfries, Fife and Falkirk – and with the eventual closure of the Edinburgh centre. This would only leave control centres in Dundee and Johnstone.
Liberal Democrats have launched petitions urging the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and the Scottish Government to rethink the plans.
The proposals will be considered at a meeting of the national fire board in Aberdeen on Thursday 26 September.
Ahead of the meeting, Scottish Liberal Democrat justice spokesperson and North East MSP Alison McInnes said: “The closure of six out of eight of Scotland’s fire control centres would strike a real blow to local communities. I have real concerns that staff will be asked to make life and death decisions without having crucial knowledge of the area. We know that this is particularly important in rural communities.
“It could lengthen response times and potentially put residents at risk. It seems completely illogical to close a state-of-the-art control room in Aberdeen only to then invest in upgrading the Dundee facility.”
“Many of the firefighters in rural areas are retained staff. I believe that it takes additional expertise to deploy and manage these resources.”
“This is the true face of the SNP’s centralising tendencies.”
Gordon MP Sir Malcolm Bruce said: “We need a fire and rescue service that reflects and responds to local needs. I am deeply concerned that the move of the control room from Aberdeen could lengthen response times and potentially put residents at risk.”
West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine MP Sir Robert Smith added: “It is really important that the Fire and Rescue Service understands the rural nature of Aberdeenshire and this is best achieved by keeping the service local.”
Westhill and District councillor Iris Walker said “Our residents need the assurance of a locally-led service. The jobs of experienced staff are at risk here and there seems to be no end to the SNP centralisation agenda”.