| Richard Benyon MP visited Newbury Fire Station to be briefed on concerns about the Government’s proposal to centralise emergency calls from Reading to a centre which will deal with 999 calls from all over the South East. Meeting with the Fire Brigades Union Local Representative Alan Irlam and local firefighters, Richard heard about the huge cost of a scheme that will bring no benefits for the public or the Fire Service.
Following the visit, Richard Benyon said, “If the current system of the Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service managing their calls works, why change it? The Government have not made the case for this change. The huge cost of a new IT system is not even making it cost effective. It is part of a draft regionalisation strategy across Government which I firmly oppose. I will be taking this up with Ministers as a matter of urgency.”
Our photograph shows Richard Benyon with Alan Irlam and Station Commander, Derek Lee-Philpot. | 
