WITH reference to recent reports in the Bucks Free Press I have grave concerns over the regionalisation of fire control rooms.

The estimated cost to the taxpayer is £754million and, taking the Government's past history into account, this could escalate to a jaw dropping £1bn.

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will only pay so much and I assume the rest will be whacked on to our council tax and so we will be paying twice.

I work in a fire control room and have read the documentation from Mr Prescott's office and fully understand the full impact this ill-conceived and poorly thought out project will have on the service we provide.

The fire service is recognised as one of the best-performing emergency services. We give advice and take 999 calls from callers who are often frightened and incoherent.

We are trained professionals who extract relevant information and mobilise in 40 seconds.

I don't care how much money they throw at this project as I very much doubt it will improve our call handling time by any significant amount.

Contact your MP, councillor, fire authority members and urge them to tell the Government to leave well alone. Modernise, yes, upgrade, yes, but if John Prescott gets his way this will decimate your fire service.

Gill Footitt (Via e-mail)