Shetland MSP Tavish Scott is calling for a control room to be established in the isles to co-ordinate call-outs for all local emergency services.
The Liberal Democrat politician’s demand comes after last month’s decision to close the fire and police control rooms in Inverness and Aberdeen following the creation of single police and fire services in Scotland.
The move is supported by Shetland Islands Council convener Malcolm Bell, although the idea is not part of the discussions the council is having with the SNP government over greater autonomy for the isles.
Mr Scott yesterday condemned the Scottish government’s record on centralisation and predicted that the country would eventually end up with just one control room in the central belt for all “blue light” services.
He said a control room in Lerwick incorporating the coastguard, police, fire and ambulance service would benefit from detailed local knowledge and be able to respond to emergencies swiftly and accurately.
“At the moment, you can’t even get into the police station all the time because it is undermanned,” Mr Scott said.
“Police, fire, coastguard and ambulance could be in the same building. That would allow all the local functions of emergencies to be co-ordinated from one place.
“The sterling efforts of all, including many volunteers, was self-evident when the helicopter ditched near Sumburgh last August. There seems little reason why Shetland should not aim for an integrated local service.”
Mr Scott and Mr Bell are now seeking a meeting with fire board chiefs to float their idea and also express their worries that increased centralisation is putting lives at risk in rural areas.
Mr Bell, a former police area commander for the isles, said: “Our concept requires the services themselves to come together and be willing to be part of it.
“In a small, compact area like Shetland, this could work. I know from my own experience that the emergency services in Shetland have always worked very well together.”