The now scrapped regional fire control centres are a typical example of waste from the last Labour Government says Cllr Ian Marks, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Warrington Council.

Cllr Marks says, “The Fire Control plan was intended to replace forty six local control centres by nine new regional control centres as part of a £423m project.  But the new centres are all standing empty because of major problems with their computers.  In December the Coalition Government announced it was scrapping the centres because the project was behind schedule, over budget and there were worries about the technical quality of the systems.  Interestingly the Fire Brigades Union had been against the project for over seven years and welcomed the decision to axe the centres.

The £14 millionnorth westcentre is here inWarringtononLingleyMereBusinessPark.  It was originally supposed to have gone live in 2009 but has been standing idle for ages costing the taxpayer £100,000 a month.  This is a massive white elephant and the Labour Party should apologise for wasting our money on this project.

I am pleased that the Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service had the good sense to invest in the modernisation of its existing control room in Winsford.  I understand they have a modern system in line with the technology planned for the regional centres.

I welcome the fact the Cheshire Service is looking at the business case for taking over the new Centre and running it on behalf of the other Services in the region.  I have written to the Chief Fire Officer in support of this initiative.”