Plans are being drawn up for a new combined hub for the island’s emergency services.

Home Affairs Minister Graham Cregeen says the hub would provide a new base for the police, fire and ambulance service - and suitable sites are currently being identified.

The Department of Home Affairs said that Douglas fire station on Peel Road, police headquarters on Glencrutchery Road and the ambulance service’s facilities were all now not fit for purpose. A spokesman said: ’The current sites for the fire and rescue service and the constabulary are both ageing and no longer fit for purpose.

’The ambulance HQ and operational sites are also unfit for purpose.

’As all three sites are in imminent need of replacement, a feasibility study for the creation of a joint site for all three services is being developed.

’This will allow the services to work more effectively together and to share facilities like training, administration and vehicle maintenance.

’A number of sites have been identified, some of which are in government ownership. Each service has specific requirements relating to response times and position in relation to other functions.

’These points will be considered as part of the feasibility study.

’Due to commercial sensitivities, it’s not possible to release the site details at this time.

’At the present time, there is no cost estimate attached, but the next stage of the feasibility will provide costings for consideration in a full business case.’

Replying to the Tynwald question from Chris Thomas (Douglas Central), the Home Affairs Minister said his department in partnership with the Department for Health and Social Care is progressing a capital scheme to create an emergency services hub.

’The feasibility report has been completed and the project team are now at the stage of identifying suitable sites for the project,’ he said.

Police headquarters were officially opened by the Duke of Gloucester in May 1979.

Plans to relocate Douglas fire station from its current Swiss-chalet-style base on Peel Road were last mooted in 2010.

At that time, the preferred new location was the old prison site on Victoria Road, Douglas.

The then chief fire officer Brian Draper said plans were at a very early stage but the move from Peel Road had been something discussed for some time and a few locations had been mooted.

The fire station in Peel Road opened in 1977, the service having previously been split over two sites - John Street and Lord Street.

In the late 1990s, the administration staff moved out of a portable cabin at Peel Road to rented premises in Onchan which also became the base for the fire safety team.

These subsequently relocated to the DHA headquarters on Tromode Road.

The fire service has outgrown its current base and engines are sometimes delayed in traffic at Quarterbridge on their way to 999 call-outs.