Aberdeen fire control staff told closure date

Emergency calls to the fire service from the north east of Scotland will be handled in Dundee from November, it has been announced.

Operations from Aberdeen and Inverness are moving to the new North Control in Dundee which is due to open by March.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said Aberdeen staff would move to temporary accommodation on 8 November.

The Fire Brigades Union Scotland said there were still "significant concerns" about the move.

The date for the move was announced to staff in the Aberdeen control room by chief fire officer Alasdair Hay.

'Seeking reassurances'

The plans - also seeing Dumfries, Fife and Falkirk being closed - were approved in 2014, with Johnstone in Renfrewshire, Edinburgh and Dundee being the three remaining bases.

Mr Hay said: "This major investment will without doubt further enhance our protection across the north of Scotland.

"We look forward to combining our capabilities from across Dundee, Aberdeen and Inverness into this fantastic facility in Dundee."

Chris McGlone, an executive council member of FBU Scotland, told BBC Scotland: "We have always been concerned that going from eight control rooms to three could potentially cause problems, particularly in the north of Scotland.

"We will be seeking reassurances that suitable measures will be put in place to support staff."