Letter: Why are they against regional fire control centres?

Letter: The recent announcement that the project to regionalise the emergency fire control centres throughout the UK is in disarray does not surprise me.

However, there is an element of subterfuge, possibly being raised by the people who could be the most adversely affected.

A good analogy is the West Mercia police force. West Mercia is not the largest police force in the country. It is an amalgamation of two counties: Shropshire and Hereford and Worcester. It has one Chief Constable, based at Hindlip in Worcestershire.

In the UK there are 46 chief fire officers; 46 deputy chief fire officers and numerous assistant chief officers, all commanding huge salaries!

If the example of West Mercia police was adopted, there would be a requirement for only nine chief fire officers/deputies and assistants. Could it be possible that any delaying tactics have been employed by the above, to protect their lucrative jobs?

With every organisation in the country being required to make cuts in expenditure, how can the fire services continue with this huge top heavy reliance on senior staff?

It would not surprise me if each of these new fire control centres was divided into the amalgamated counties, giving each autonomy as directed by their own chief officers.

Peter M Jones

Shrewsbury