Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service Newsdesk

at 04/10/2005 16:16

A project which would have brought together Fire Brigade, Police and Road Safety personnel in a new building in Truro has now been scrapped. The Home Office and Office of the Deputy Prime Minister are reviewing changes to the project, putting into question the allocation of PFI credits and extending the original timescale.



The Joint Safety Centre project intended to use £12.63m Private Finance Initiative (PFI) investment from the Government to help streamline the way these public protection services work together.



A site to the rear of Old County Hall on Truro’s Station Road had been earmarked, and plans were well in hand for the venture to bring together strategic staff from the Police Service, Cornwall County Fire Brigade and the County Council’s Road Safety Unit in a purpose-built centre. There was to be an emphasis on reducing road casualties, but there would also have been efficiency benefits from having Police and Fire HQ staff sitting alongside each other.



County Council Executive member for Public Protection Ken Yeo says “Although it is disappointing not to be able to go ahead with what would have been a national first, I am sure the partners can take forward elements of the project to do with joint working and efficiencies.”



The Home Office informed the project team in April that it is reviewing the PFI credit allocation due to changes in the Police element of the scheme which were made in 2003 in consultation with the Partnership in order to confirm continued affordability. The team had already advised the Government that a further £1.46 million would be needed for the scheme to remain viable, on the basis of a decision by the end of June. Wednesday’s meeting of the County Council’s Executive heard that the project timetable is no longer achievable, and a decision was made to cancel the project to avoid incurring further costs.