Managers believe a combined control would be more efficient

FBU members are against plans for one new super control room to cover Leics, Notts, Northants, Derbys and Lincs.

A regional management board on Thursday in Leicestershire will look at the latest plans to merge the centres where 999 fire calls are answered.

The government wants to set up nine regional control rooms, including one each for the east and west Midlands.

I would not believe in signing up, or working alongside this project, if I did not believe it would produce the results that we want David Webb Leicestershire chief fire officer

Tom Murray from the FBU in Derbyshire said the technical, safety and financial arguments have not made been made.

He said: "Many of our members will be lobbying the meeting to get the management board to understand the problems and our concerns about the government plans to cut 50 control rooms down to just nine."

FBU research showed previous Government IT projects have come it at 43% over budget.

It points to highly publicised problems with CSA and Inland Revenue computer systems.

It said the fire regional control room project could end up costing �1bn nationally if it went the same way.

Site selection

David Webb, chief fire officer for Leicestershire and Rutland and member of the East Midlands Regional Management Board, said they would be fitted with 'state-of-the-art' technology in new buildings.

"I would not believe in signing up, or working alongside this project, if I did not believe it would produce the results that we want."

He said the scheme offers "a more resilient fire control service across the country and one that is offering a service which is, at least, as good, as we have got and hopefully better".

The site for the regional control rooms has not been announced.