Future of £9.7m fire base under discussion

A number of organisations are in talks over taking on a £9.7million fire regional control centre for the West Midlands and Staffordshire that was scrapped before it even opened.

The centre was built in 2007 in Wolverhampton but has never opened after it was hit by a series of problems. It has been costing £1.7m a year in rent and bills.

The national £423m project set up by former Labour deputy prime minister John Prescott to merge all 46 of England's fire control centres to nine to provide joined-up responses to major incidents.

But the move ran a total of £100m over budget with no sign of being completed before the new coalition Government shut it down last December.

Both Staffordshire and West Midlands fire services have said they no interest in taking on the site but Government officials today said they are in discussions over its future.

A Department for Communities and Local Government spokeswoman said: "There is both public and private sector interest in taking over the building."

Officials said they couldn't say anything more as it was deemed "commercially sensitive."

Costs for the Staffordshire and West Midlands centre, which was built at Wolverhampton Business Park off the Stafford Road, spiralled as problems emerged with getting computer equipment fitted.

The project was also criticised for its extravagance after it was revealed a £6,000 coffee machine had been installed.

Earlier this year a report by the National Audit Office dubbed the ill-fated project a "comprehensive failure".

It was confirmed last month that fire control services in Staffordshire and the West Midlands will be merged in a move which will save money.

It is currently unclear where the new control centre will be.

It is also not known whether the move will lead to job losses.

West Midlands Fire Service decided to spend £20m on a new headquarters in Nechells, Birmingham, in 2009.

If the merged service is set up there it could pave the way for the closure of the control room at Staffordshire's headquarters at Pirehill, near Stone.

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