Scottish Liberal Democrat justice spokesperson Alison McInnes MSP said today is a dark day for Scotland’s emergency services.

Following on from announced plans by Police Scotland to close six out of 10 police control rooms, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service published plans which will close further fire control rooms in Aberdeen and Inverness.

In total, five out of eight fire control rooms are to close.

Mrs McInnes – who is MSP for North East Scotland – said: “It is not an exaggeration to say that this is a dark day for Scotland’s emergency services. I have already been contacted by staff who have told me of their devastation at the proposed closures.

“This confirms that Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill has stood by and done nothing while highly regard local emergency police and fire services are dismantled.”

North Kincardine Liberal Democrat councillor Ian Mollison commented: “First it was our fire control room in Aberdeen that was threatened with closure (decision later this month) and now Police Scotland want to shut the 999 call centre in the city. Calls would be handled in the Central Belt.

“Coming on top of local courts closing and many police offices shutting to the public, what’s going on? I don’t like centralisation … but no false tears from Labour and the SNP about this please. They backed having one centralised police force and one centralised fire service. It was inevitable that resources would head south.

“Local knowledge is essential in providing an effective response to time-critical emergencies.”