Key center project in West Thuringia: Gotha gets out, staying partners!

Key center project in West Thuringia: Gotha gets out, staying partners!

A dramatic turning point in the control center project West Thuringia! The Gotha district withdraws, but the Wartburg district and the Ilm district continue to take its course on a digital rescue control center. Ilm district councilor Petra Enders (independent) confirmed that despite Gotha's exit, the remaining partners are determined to pursue their plans. Talks with potential new partners are already underway to achieve the ambitious goal.

The Interior Ministry has made it clear that Gotha's withdrawal has no effect on the country's control center strategy. However, the funding that is bound to a partnership could be at risk. The Wartburg district plans to make the joint control center ready for operation by the end of 2026 at the latest-an ambitious goal that is now under a new star!

original plans in danger

The foundation of the special purpose association "Central control center West Thuringia" in 2020 was to produce a central control center in Schwabhausen (Gotha district) until 2027. A property had already been found, but the exorbitant costs of around 17 million euros have initiated the discussion about a digital solution. While the other circles see the advantages of a digital control center, Gotha decided to leave the special purpose association and plan to return the property.

Future of the control centers in focus

The state of Thuringia has been pursuing the goal for years to link the rescue control centers. The partnership between Nordhausen and Erfurt is already on the right track, and an agreement is also imminent between Gera and Jena. Technical planning runs in parallel, while first discussions take place in the South Thuringia emergency service association in the south. But not all counties are on board: Unstrut-Hainich, Eichsfeldkreis and district of Weimarer Land remain outside.

There are currently twelve rescue control centers in Thuringia, but this number is to be drastically reduced. The aim is to keep the control centers at the latest state of the art and at the same time save costs. The Ministry of the Interior and the statutory health insurance companies support the financing of these important institutions. The future of the emergency services in Thuringia remains exciting!