The BBC reports that on Monday the new control centre for the fire service in the East Midlands was handed over to the local fire and rescue service.
The Castle Donington facility which is not expected to fully open until late 2009 will receive and co-ordinate calls for the fire service from across Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire and Northamptonshire.
The facility is been opened because the government believe that it will "allow a quicker and easier response to calls" but the fire brigade unions have opposed the plans because they fear it could lead to a reduction in service.
This is a similar view to a house of commons select committee which in a report available from the Fire Brigade Website also slams the plans and advises that they remain unconvinced that the same quality of service can be maintained under the plans.
Now whilst this is not coming into effect immediately this is something which will need to be kept under review, given the concerns that local people have had in the past with the police control centre which is based in Ripley and only covers Derbyshire.
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