Avon Fire Authority chiefs have labelled Government plans for a regional control centre as "farcical" following recent developments.

Last week the politicians responsible for providing Avon Fire and Rescue wrote to Nick Raynsford at the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, expressing concerns that the existing control centre at Lansdown, Bath, was not being considered as an option.

Fire authority chairman Cllr Terry Walker said: "We were very concerned that the people involved in this project had become so preoccupied with the procurement process and rules, that the existing centre at Lansdown was not being properly considered as an alternative to a 'new build'.

"The 'new build' option will be far more costly to the local taxpayers and we feel this is wrong. We wrote to the Minister, urging him to ensure that Lansdown was properly considered and evaluated.

"Our original proposal was ruled out solely on the grounds of 'site size'. The people responsible for this decision only looked at the size of the land area on which Lansdown sits, rather than at the existing building and its facilities. It was not the point of our submission to consider whether the site would be appropriate for a new build."

Following the letter Avon Fire Authority, and Avon Fire and Rescue were told a team of officials would visit Lansdown. On Friday a four-person team turned up and offered to carry out an evaluation, but added that this would have to be confirmed by more senior civil servants.

However an email from Office of the Deputy Prime Minister sent to chief officers in the region before Friday's visit showed '...there is absolutely no question of Lansdown being reconsidered or added to the shortlist'.

Said Cllr Walker: "This email merely demonstrates how much of a farce this whole situation has become. What is the point of them offering an evaluation if they have already decided that it will serve no purpose? This is a complete waste of time and money."

Avon chief fire officer Kevin Pearson said: "To be offered an evaluation on the one hand, then be told on the other that it will not make any difference, seems to be a complete nonsense.

" We will be urging the Government to stop the whole procurement process and start again. We accept that this might cause a delay, but that is surely preferable to the current state of affairs."

Meanwhile Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue and the county council are continuing to champion the case for using the recently opened tri-service emergency centre at Quedgeley as the regional fire HQ.