Inquiry into changes in 999 centres

AN inquiry is being launched into proposed changes in the way 999 fire calls are dealt with that have been dogged by delays and spiralling costs.

A powerful Parliamentary committee will investigate the Government’s plans to axe existing fire control rooms and replace them with regional centres.

Under the Fire Control project, developed in 2004, Manchester’s base will close and all calls will go through a new super-centre in Warrington, covering the entire North-West region.

The move was due to take place in February, 2011, but “technical problems with developing the IT system” means that will not now happen until January, 2012.

The Commons Communities and Local Government Select Committee will come up with a series of recommendations setting out the changes that it believes need to be made to the plans.

Ministers insist that everyone will benefit under the new nationally-linked regional network, with better protection for the public, and making the difficult job of fire-fighters safer and more effective, with access to high-tech equipment.

But the Fire Brigades Union has branded the national project a disaster and called for a review of the plans to replace the 46 existing fire control centres with one for each of the nine English regions.

The FBU claims that a lack of local knowledge could lead to delays in providing emergency support, and even cost lives.

A spokesman said: “In 2004, the Government promised a state-of-the-art control system would be in place by 2007 and originally estimated the cost at £100 million.

“The last business case put the project costs at £1.4 billion and rising.

“There will be no savings and no genuine timetable for completion. Many technology problem remain unresolved.”

Similar plans have been abandoned in Wales and Scotland.

The National Audit Office, is also to hold an investigation into the management of the programme.

More than £55 million of taxpayers’ money has been spent on consultants working on plans to create the regional fire centres — which could have paid for 300 new appliances.