Aberdeenshire councillors across the political divide banded together yesterday to voice concerns over a threat to the future of the region’s fire control room.
Under changes proposed by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, eight call centres across the country would be reduced to three – with just one covering the north and north-east.
At a full council meeting at Woodhill House in Aberdeen yesterday, elected members unanimously agreed that council leader Jim Gifford should write to chief fire officer Alasdair Hay.
Concerns were raised that the authority had not been consulted on the proposed closures, unlike in the case of Police Scotland’s plans to cut opening hours at local offices.
Members also sought assurances that there would be no detrimental impact on emergency services as a result of the closure of the control room at Mounthooly in Aberdeen.
Mr Gifford said: “There was no consultation with the council on these plans, unlike the police proposals for public counters. We are told that strategic decisions are being taken but we have no information on the reasons for them.
“Mounthooly is a very modern facility which was designed to be expanded and I am concerned about the loss of personnel, particularly with skills relating to oil and gas.”
Peterhead South and Cruden member Stephen Smith, SNP, voiced support for the letter on behalf of the main opposition group and said his party was happy to work with the administration on the issue. He said: “I am happy to support councillor Gifford on this and feel that it is only right that we should put forward a united case for the retention of the Aberdeen control room. I also think it is right that we should have been consulted before the plans were made public.”
Conservative councillor for Westhill and District Ron McKail suggested working with Aberdeen City Council to lobby the fire service as a united front.
City council leader Barney Crockett said: “We would be keen to work with Aberdeenshire on this as we are seeing the centralisation of services to the detriment of the area and we should work together to ensure the north-east is properly represented.”
Comment, Page 30