999 call centre 'to proceed'
12:20pm Saturday 19th July 2008
THE man behind the implementation of a new 999 fire call centre in Taunton has said he fully backs the project - even though it won't make the projected financial savings.
The single regional control centre will replace individual facilities from Gloucestershire to Cornwall and is due to start operating in October next year.
Jerry Willmott, who chairs the company set up to see the project through, yesterday expressed his continued support for the scheme.
But he has written to Fire Brigade Minister Parmjit Dhanda that some essential information had been slow in coming through.
Mr Willmott said: "I'm totally behind the project, even though it would appear the financial savings we'd hoped for aren't to be forthcoming.
"The advance in the sophistication and resilience of equipment it will give us locally and nationally justify the project proceeding.
"There are absolutely no reasons why it shouldn't proceed and it will be to the advantage of the people of the South-West."
Julie Burnett, chief executive of the new control centre, said: "We're proceeding with the project and looking towards cut over happening in October 2009, when Somerset calls will be transferred to the centre."
She added that up to 16 staff are being recruited in the coming weeks.
The Fire Brigades' Union has criticised the setting up of nine regional centres across the country, which are all due to be live by the end of 2011.
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Brenda, Taunton says...
6:08pm Sun 20 Jul 08
This expensive "white elephant" has stood empty for almost 3 years, whilst the PFI bidder makes money regardless on rents and management charges.
Despite being empty an expensive staff has been recruited?
The business case for making projected savings is casually said to have "vanished". No apologies or embarrassment or even the decency of an explanation for taxpayer?
Should the Gazette at least ask a few searching questions, rather than meekly reporting like this?
And given the £400m with IBM for Southwest One, let's hope that we don't hear of similar vanishing savings in 2009 or 2010 then.