MOVES to turn a mothballed fire control centre costing the taxpayer more than £100,000 a month into a brigade headquarters have taken a major step forward.

The North East Fire Control Centre, in Belmont, Durham City, was meant to replace brigade headquarters for Durham, Teesside, Tyne and Wear and Northumberland but the national reorganisation of the fire service ended in complete failure, costing the taxpayer nearly £500m.

The 35,000sq ft Belmont facility, which has never been used since construction in 2008, cost £12.4m to build and is costing the Government about £140,000 a month in rent and fees.

Last summer, Durham fire brigade struck a deal to lease the building as its 999 call handling centre and headquarters, when it leaves its premises in Framwellgate Moor.

Although it had been hoped this would take place in May, fire chiefs are now looking at September.

However, they have announced a £1.8m deal to install a state-of-the-art new call handling system.

The technology, which will replace the current 20-year-old setup, will be installed and maintained by Slough-based firm Airwave, an industry leader, but still staffed by brigade staff and paid for by a grant from central Government.

Susan Johnson, chief executive of County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service, said: “This is excellent news; incorporating the latest mobilisation technology, the system will improve the way in which we receive 999 calls and deploy emergency vehicles; ensuring that we continue to deliver a first-class service to our communities.

“By working with Airwave we will be able to provide a highly resilient command and control system that meets current and future requirements.

“By locating the control room in our new headquarters building in Belmont, Durham, which was intended to be the regional fire control centre, we have been able to put the building to good use, securing a value for money solution for the people of County Durham and Darlington.”

It is expected the system will be operational by early next year.

As part of the shake-up, Durham City’s fire station will move to new premises at Sniperley.