The now-defunct Fire Control project was a mistake, the former minister for the project has admitted.
Labour’s Jim Fitzpatrick, who led the multi-million pound scheme to replace England’s 46 control rooms with nine regional supercentres, said the idea should not be repeated.
He was warning the coalition about the parallels between Fire Control and the government’s attempts to overhaul the UK’s coastguard service, as reported by This is Exeter.
Speaking against the proposals in a parliamentary debate, the former fire minister and ex-firefighter told the shipping minister Mike Penning: "I am tempted to ask whether he will make the same mistake as me on fire controls. Does he, like several colleagues present, recognise a parallel between that and the proposals under discussion?"
Fire Control was abandoned last December following criticism of spiralling costs. After being beset with delays and technical problems, and the original project cost of £120m grew to £420m.
Last week, the monthly rents for the buildings were published in The Times (7 February).
Matt Wrack, general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union, said: “This botched project has haemorrhaged millions of pounds of taxpayers’ money – all for nothing. We were a lone voice calling for this ill-fated project to be scrapped seven years ago – with money invested in upgrading locally accountable fire control centres.
“Millions have been wasted. The public has been short changed and our members treated appallingly.”
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