HAMPSHIRE'S fire control room is heading for the scrap yard in favour of one super-emergency centre covering nine counties.

Within two years there could be sweeping changes to how 999 calls are handled - despite massive resistance.

Earlier this year Hampshire's fire chiefs voted unanimously to oppose the formation of a super control centre following a demonstration of workers.

But yesterday they heard that the first regional control room - which could include Hampshire - should be in place by November 2006.

All fire brigades across the UK are expected to switch to the controversial new system by the middle of 2008. It's still not known how much the new centre will cost, where it will be based, or whether existing staff can be persuaded to work there.

An announcement on the siting of the regional centre is expected before March next year - it could go anywhere between Kent to Buckinghamshire.

Already IT companies have been asked to supply control room technology and experts are working on the centre design, including choosing the furniture.

Lucy Carter, from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, told the fire authority: "The aim of this is not just about saving money. The aim is to make the taking of 999 calls better."

She said Britain's 46 existing control rooms did not have "adequate capacity to manage catastrophic events," such as a major terrorist attack.

Under the new state-of-the-art system, resilience would be the key, with all centres working to one system which could re-route emergency calls if a control room was attacked.

Fire authority members strongly criticised the plan, which will cost lives in Hampshire.

Councillor John Stocks said: "I don't think the government have succeeded yet in having a project that's not been a complete failure.

"The one thing we need to know is what the members of the public will pay.

"It's tragic that for all the wonderful talk about saving money we have started off on the wrong foot, with no one telling us the cost."