Last-ditch effort to stop closure of Highlands' fire control room
Local Labour MSP David Stewart has made a last ditch plea to Ministers in the Scottish Parliament calling for a rethink on the closure of the Inverness fire control room.
Mr Stewart said: “This is not simply a debate about the closure of local control rooms, but how we can insure that our communities feel safe and secure regardless of whether they live in Edinburgh or Elgin, Stirling or Stornoway, Dunoon or Dumfries”.
The motion was tabled following the restructuring of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) which proposed the closure of five of Scotland’s eight emergency service control rooms, including Inverness.
Following the announcement Mr Stewart raised concerns that the closures would disproportionally affect rural communities where local geographic knowledge is highly important in mobilising fire fighting efforts.
The closure of local control centres in favour of centralisation has left many rural towns and communities feeling vulnerable and isolated from the SFRS.
He said: “I once again urge the Scottish Government and SFRS to re-asses the decision to close Fire Control Rooms in Inverness and Aberdeen.
“We are best when at our boldest. The Parliament has a proud record of innovation and best practice, the Parliament should go forward with another ground breaking policy by putting a stop to the control room closures and extend the provision of sprinklers to protect more people across Scotland.”
Jamie McGrigor, Highlands and Islands Conservative MSP, has voiced the concerns of his constituents across the region about the proposed closure of the Inverness fire control room.
He said: “On behalf of constituents across my region I wish to highlight the very genuine concerns about the proposal to close the Inverness control room.
“I was recently in the Western Isles and was presented by campaigners, including Councillor Catriona Stewart, with a copy of the petition with over 3,000 signatures which was given to David Stewart as Convenor of the Petitions Committee.
“The number of signatures collected- in addition to those gathered through the facebook campaign- demonstrates the strength of local feeling. Council leaders have also spoken out against the changes.
“Anxiety about the potential loss of local knowledge and expertise is widespread.
"The remote rural and island communities of the Highlands and Islands region have been well served by the Inverness control room.
"Constituents have correctly pointed out that many roads and house and place names in the region are in Gaelic and it is therefore vital those in the control room have this awareness - something the Inverness control room certainly has and something which has been acquired and built up over a very long period of time.
“I also share the concern of constituents who are annoyed that communities simply were not consulted before the proposal to close the Inverness control room was announced. This is highly regrettable.
“I call on the Minister to recognise and address the very significant level of public concern across the Highlands and Islands on this matter and to urge the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to engage with communities and reassess its decision on the Inverness control room.”
