The Home Affairs Minister says he is yet to be convinced of the need for a ’blue light’ hub.

Graham Cregeen told Tynwald this month that his department was progressing with a scheme to provide a new base for the police, fire and ambulance services.

He said that a feasibility report is being developed and suitable sites are now being identified.

The Department of Home Affairs says the current bases for police, fire and ambulance are ageing or otherwise unfit for purpose.

But in an interview with MTTV’s Paul Moulton, the Minister revealed: ’I am yet to be convinced it’s the right thing to be doing. Why would you put everything in the same place?

’I’m giving it the scrutiny it deserves. I will be having discussions with the service heads to ask what the rationale is behind this.’

Mr Cregeen said the scheme had had the support of the previous Home Affairs Minister, the late Bill Malarkey.

He said he also had questions about access as the location of any base for the emergency services in Douglas is key.

In 2007 government bought the Quarterbridge pub as a possible site for a new ambulance service headquarters.

Then in 2010 it emerged that plans were being mooted to relocate Douglas fire station to the site of the old prison on Victoria Road.

Chief Constable Gary Roberts said the police headquarters on Glencrutchery Road is ’bursting at the seams’.

He said: ’Parts need to be reconstructed, it needs a lot of remedial work. It is full of small offices that aren’t conducive to modern working practices and it is hopelessly energy inefficient.

’The workforce needs to be together, but aside from the important local stations, is spread across three other buildings.

’There are wholly inadequate storage facilities, our firearms range has been condemned, we have inadequate facilities to process and store controlled drugs.

’There are almost no facilities to provide for the welfare of staff, witness facilities are largely poor and the public counter is poor. The list is long.’

The Chief Constable added: ’The sitting of the new facility is for politicians to decide, but I would greatly prefer to create a campus type facility around the new cell block and the joint control room.’