DERBYSHIRE'S new regional fire control centre is on track to open in May 2011 – more than three years after it was originally due to come into operation.

The multi-million-pound centre will handle emergency calls from all over the East Midlands and oversee services from five counties.

It is part of the Government's plans to cut the number of UK fire control centres from 47 to nine – a move which at the end of 2009 had risen to an estimated cost of £1.4bn.

The original price tag was an estimated £100m, but IT problems have caused a huge delay and a mammoth rise in costs.

Liz Reeson, from Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, which is leading the project, said a small team was already based at the Castle Donington centre.

But the first wave of call operators due to move in permanently, from Derbyshire's fire service, will not be transferred until next summer.

She said: "It's a massive project and there have been delays in delivering it. There have been lots of issues about the technology but we are doing everything we can."

Two "training advisers" are working from the centre, including one from Derbyshire, and six operations managers have recently been chosen.

They will handle the day-to-day operations within the control room and will take up their positions early in 2011, when training for the staff will finally start.

The main reason for the delays is a technical one – the Willow Farm control centre contains new satellite systems and digital mapping equipment.

These will help crews to save vital time when responding to emergencies by helping them to find the quickest routes, but the equipment has been beset by problems.

The Castle Donington centre will lead to the closure of Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service's control room, in Burton Road, Littleover.

Ninety staff will take calls from five counties, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Workers from Derbyshire will be joined by operators from Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire at the new complex.

The project has been heavily criticised by the Fire Brigades Union and opposition parties, which said it was "doomed from the start".

Tom Murray, regional chairman, said: "We are very doubtful they can receive a service better than the one currently in place, despite spending in the region of £400m."