CREATING a "super brigade" of police and fire services across North Yorkshire under one commissioner would be of no advantage and take control further from rural areas, a councillor has warned.

Upper Dales councillor John Blackie, a former leader of Richmondshire District Council, has expressed his concerns as a public consultation is set to be launched over bringing the services together under the control of Police and Crime Commissioner Julia Mulligan.

Mrs Mulligan has said the merger could save millions of pounds of tax-payers' money.

Dales councillor John Blackie said he has already been approached by frontline fire and police officers who have fundamental concerns.

He added: “Given the different nature of the responses required I can see no advantage whatsoever in drawing the two together. I am quite in favour of collaboration and this is already happening, but once you start drawing them together and having a combined emergency response centre, it takes them further and further away.

“There are huge reservations amongst frontline staff. They will have to go a long way to convince me in this particular case given the rural nature of the county and the fact both services have existed separately for many many years.

“ In many rural areas if you call for a fire engine they’ve turned out within five minutes, if you call for a policeman you might have to wait an hour. It is the sort of local response and knowledge that makes me consider these organisations are better separate than together.”

The consultation is due to start on July 17 for ten weeks.

A change in the law has permitted Mrs Mulligan to replace the fire authority and take responsibility for the fire and rescue service.

Her office said it would make no comment until the public consultation.

However in October last year Mrs Mulligan said: "By creating one clear direction of travel, one overarching strategy delivered and monitored through one governance mechanism where both the Chief Fire Officer and Chief Constable sit together on the sole executive board, the Police and Crime Commissioner would be able to provide accountable oversight and strategic direction in a way that gives our communities, for the first time, a single point of accountability for both of the critical emergency services across their county."

She has made a business case which is being considered by the Minister of State for Police and Fire. If that is agreed the consultation will go ahead, with the minister making the final decision.