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Last Updated:  Tuesday, 8 April, 2003, 09:22 GMT 10:22 UK
Fire union chief in control centre talks
Wiltshire's emergency services control centre
The centre is due to open in May
Andy Gilchrist - the Fire Brigades' Union leader - will be in Wiltshire on Tuesday for talks over a controversial joint control centre.

In March, firefighters in Wiltshire voted to take independent strike action in protest over the new centre at Wiltshire Police Headquarters.

At 1700 BST, Mr Gilchrist will be meeting Jerry Wilmot from Wiltshire Fire Authority at Potterne.

The county's Chief Fire Officer will also be present.

Job concerns

In a recent ballot, almost 58% of Wiltshire firefighters voted in favour of a strike.

The combined control system - which would link the emergency services across Wiltshire and co-ordinate responses to 999 calls from a single centre - is due to open in May.

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) is against the move and says it has concerns about jobs for control room staff and emergency response times.

Managers of the centre have said the change will improve the processing of 999 calls.




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