Fire control cut proposals raise concerns

Orkney MSP Liam McArthur has reacted with dismay to proposals currently under consideration by the national fire board to slash the number of fire control centres in Scotland from eight to two.

This would mean that when reporting a fire, people in Orkney would have to speak to someone in Dundee, rather than Inverness, as is currently the case.

Commenting, Mr McArthur said: “As with the creation of a single national police force, the concern over reforms to fire and rescue services was always that centralisation would lead to operations becoming more remote from rural and island areas.  These proposals confirm that those fears were not misplaced.

“People in Orkney will be understandably worried by the implications of this latest proposal to route calls via a centre in Dundee.  In rural areas such as Orkney, reporting a fire is not always straightforward and often relies on the experience of call centre staff and their understanding of the region to ensure that a fire engine is sent to the right place.

“Inverness often feels like it is too far away, but this latest centralisation will be seen by many of my constituents as a step too far.  Mr MacAskill must now heed the calls to think again.”