I READ with disgust the article in Evening News on Tuesday, May 18, in which Richard Udall was quoted as saying he was concerned that Worcester was becoming a dormitory city.

He said he was keen to find a way of attracting new businesses to open in Worcester so that people living in the area don't need to travel long distances to work.

How then can he, as Chairman of the Hereford and Worcester Combined Fire Authority, openly support the regionalisation of the Fire Control based in Worcester City, with Warwickshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire and West Midlands Fire Controls?

The site for this "regional control" is highly unlikely to be in our county, as sites in Staffordshire and the North Midlands are strongly rumoured.

The majority of Worcester Fire Control staff live in the Faithful City. Does he really expect that Worcester Fire Control staff will travel long distances in order to carry out a 12-hour shift answering emergency calls and mobilising our fire engines - in another county?

A LUKE,

Worcester.