It is part of a long-term plan to reduce the number of ambulance control centres in Wales from eight to three.

Ambulances must respond quicker to emergencies

The centre was opened by Welsh Health Minister Jane Hutt on Wednesday, who promised a more efficient service.

There has been criticism for poor response times and new Welsh Assembly standards mean ambulances have to respond to emergency calls far more quickly.

Ms Hutt said: "The new facilities use the most up-to-date technical equipment available and will provide an excellent base from which to continue to deliver quality ambulance services to the people of north Wales."

The new set up will also offer a better environment for workers

Ann Jones, Vale of Clwyd AM

Ann Jones, the Labour AM for the Vale of Clwyd, is a former emergency control worker and has welcomed the new centre.

She said "Modern technology means it doesn't matter where the control centre is located.

"Staff in the old control centre in Rhyl, for example, provided a very good service in difficult working conditions.

Improvement pledge

"The new set up will also offer a better environment for workers."

The All Wales Ambulance Trust was established in April 1998 when all five ambulance trusts were merged into one.

It pledged to improve response times and cut costs.

The old trust failed to meet all the response targets laid down in the Patients Charter, blaming problems in creating a new centralised control centre.