Tim Farron MP has called upon the government to begin an independent review of the regional fire control system for the North West, after the emergency fire control centre for the entire North West of England ordered firefighters from Carlisle to respond to an incident in Lancashire, a 200 mile round trip away.
North West Fire Control Centre in Warrington recently replaced a system of local control centres and now handles 999 calls for Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Cheshire and Cumbria.
The MP for Westmoreland and Lonsdale, said: “This project has been called a ‘white elephant’ and it really is.
“How can we expect someone in Warrington to know the difference between Staveley-in-Westmoreland and Staveley-in-Cartmel when someone calls in distress?
“I hope that Eric Pickles will urgently look at this new evidence and agree to a review of the situation.”
The Fire Brigades Union, which has campaigned against the closures of five fire control centres in the North West, said public safety had been put at risk through the merging of services.
Matt Wrack, FBU general secretary, said: “After being years late and massively over budget the new control system continues to be a huge government embarrassment.
“Local knowledge has been lost as local control centre’s are closed and control staff made redundant.
“Quick and efficient response times are vital to firefighters being successful; mistakes like these put the public at risk.
“Eric Pickles must listen and order a review into the system.”
