An agreement has been reached for the Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service to use Surrey's emergency control room in a deal worth £1.4 million over five years.
Following the demise of the last government's regional fire control centre programme, some fire services find themselves with out-dated control rooms that need to be replaced or upgraded.
However, Surrey Fire and Rescue Service's mobilising control centre has benefited from continual investment to keep it up to date, so much so that the Isle of Wight asked to base its emergency control centre operation in Surrey.
Kay Hammond, Surrey County Council's Cabinet Member for Community Safety, this week agreed the terms of a £1.4 million, five-year deal, for all Isle of Wight emergency fire calls to be dealt with at Surrey's headquarters in Reigate.
She said: "There are clear benefits to be had through both fire and rescue services working together. We've spent a long time drafting this agreement to ensure it is in the best interests of both Surrey and the Isle of Wight. Safety is always our number one priority and by working together we'll provide a first class service to the residents of both communities."
Steve Owen-Hughes, Surrey's Assistant Chief Fire Officer, said: "We are in a strong position because we've been investing in new technology, which means we have the capacity to work with the Isle of Wight with no impact on Surrey. We'll continue to invest in our mobilising and communications centre to further improve the excellent life-saving service we provide."
The merger is due to take place in early March.

 

Posted February 24tht, 2012 at 0950 by Andrew. Comment by emailing: andrew.lynch@pavpub.com