A CONTROVERSIAL scheme to build new fire control centres – which is already years behind schedule and hundreds of millions of pounds over the original budget – could have to be scrapped, MPs were told yesterday.

The Fire Control project, which will replace Merseyside’s dedicated call-handling unit with a Warrington-based call centre covering the entire North-West, came under fierce criticism during evidence to the communities and local government select committee.

MPs were told it is costing too much, was not guaranteed to work, and meant brigades were not updating their existing control centres. And last night Les Skarratts, secretary of Merseyside Fire Brigades Union, echoed the calls for the project to be scrapped.

Mr Skarratts said: “The quicker this project is laid to rest and we return to normal service, the better for all. It can’t work. You’re talking about a huge loss of local knowledge.”

But Fire services minister Shahid Malik told the committee the new centres will be operational by mid-2011.